THE  MESSAGE  OF 
STEWARDSHIP 


RALPH  S.  CUSHMAN 


»       i 


iiidiiiiiiliiMa^ 


BV  772  .C79  1922 

Cushman,  Ralph  S.  1879-1960j 

The  message  of  stewardship  I 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 


ADVENTURES  IN  STEWARDSHIP 


THE  MESSAGE  OF 
STEWARDSHIP 


A  Book  for  Daily  Devotions 
AND  Class  Study 


By 
RALPH  S/CUSHMAN 


THE  ABINGDON  PRESS 

NEW  YORK  CINCINNATI 


Copyright,  1922,  bj^ 
RALPH  S.  CUSHMAN 


Printed   in   the   United    States   of  America 


The  Bible  text  used  in  this  volume  is  taken  from  the  American  Standard 
Edition  of  the  Revised  Bible,  copyright,  1901,  by  Thomas  Nelson  &  Sons,  and 
is  used  by  permission. 


TO 

THOSE    CHRISTIAN   BUSINESS   MEN 

OF   AMERICA 

WHO   HAVE    STOOD,    AND   ARE    STANDING, 

WITH    ALL   THEIR    RESOURCES 

OF   PERSONALITY   AND   POSSESSIONS, 

IN   THE    FOREFRONT    OF   THE    BATTLE    FOR   THE 

CHRISTIAN   CONQUEST   OF 

THE    WORLD 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

Preface 9 

acknowxedgment ii 

I.  Jesus'  Philosophy  of  Life 15 

II.  God's  Stewardship 34 

III.  Jesus  Teaching  Stewardship 52 

IV.  Stewardship  and  Service 73 

V.  Pentecost  and  Stewardship 93 

VI.  Stewardship  and  Prayer iii 

VII.  The  Peril  to  Stewardship 131 

VIII.  Stewardship  and  Property 151 

IX.  Business  and  Stewardship 174 

X.  Stewardship  and  the  Tithe 197 

Index 222 

Scripture  Quoted 236 

Poems  Quoted 238 


PREFACE 

This  book  has  been  written  out  of  a  deep  desire  to  indi- 
cate more  clearly  the  inestimable  spiritual  value  of  the 
stewardship  message,  by  showing  that  the  principle  of  stew- 
ardship underlies  the  entire  message  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments. 

An  outline  of  the  argument  as  given  in  the  following  pages 
would  point  out  ten  definite  propositions  concerning  stew- 
ardship: (i)  that  it  is  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life;  (2)  that  it 
is  the  very  essence  of  the  character  of  God;  (3)  that  it  is 
the  special  theme  of  the  teachings  of  Jesus;  (4)  that  "stew- 
ardship," rather  than  "service,"  is  God's  key  word;  (5)  that 
Pentecost  deepened  the  stewardship  conviction  in  the  minds 
of  the  disciples;  (6)  that  the  Pentecostal  church  laid  special 
emphasis  upon  the  stewardship  of  prayer;  (7)  that  the  ancient 
enemy  of  stewardship  is  covetousness ;  (8)  that  the  Pente- 
costal stewardship  consciousness  was  simultaneous  with  con- 
secration of  property  to  the  will  of  God;  (9)  that  the  need 
of  the  world  then,  as  to-day,  is  the  application  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  stewardship  to  all  life,  including  property  and  busi- 
ness; (10)  and  finally  that  God's  approach  to  stewardship  of 
material  resources  has  always  been  through  the  dedication 
of  a  holy  portion,  or  the  tithe. 

The  book  is  proposed  both  for  use  in  daily  devotions  and 
for  classes  in  the  study  of  stewardship.  To  the  latter  end  the 
introductory  section  of  each  chapter  will  serve  as  the  basis 
of  study,  while  the  daily  readings  will  assure  additional  help. 
Material  for  helps  for  class  and  individual  study  will  be 
found  at  the  close  of  each  chapter. 

Special  emphasis  has  been  laid  on  the  stewardship  of  busi- 
ness, because  the  practice  of  the  principle  of  stewardship  is 
the  great  need  of  the  employer  and  the  employee,  if  the  indus- 
trial problems  are  to  be  solved. 

R.    S.    C. 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

A  GREAT  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  to  many  books  which  have 
been  consulted,  and  to  several  friends  who  have  given  valu- 
able suggestions.  I  especially  wish  to  refer  to  Dr.  Andrew 
Gillies,  of  Rochester,  and  Dr.  Luther  E.  Lovejoy,  steward- 
ship secretary  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

Finally,  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Air.  Leon  Wood  for  his 
untiring  and  painstaking  work  in  reading  manuscript  and  in 
preparing  the  Questions  and  helps  for  study  which  appear  in 
the  closing  pages  of  each  chapter,  and  for  the  Index.  Mr. 
Wood's  familiarity  with  the  stewardship  message  through 
long  years  of  study  has  made  his  service  particularly  valu- 
able. 

Special  acknowledgment  is  gladly  made  to  the  following 
publishers  for  permission  to  use  selections  either  in  prose  or 
verse : 

The  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  London, 
for  reference  from  The  Sacred  Tenth,  two  volumes,  by  Henry 
P.  Lansdell.  The  Alacmillan  Company,  New  York,  for  extracts 
from  Enduring  Investments,  by  Roger  W.  Babson,  Copyright, 
1921 ;  The  Five  Great  Philosophies  of  Life,  by  William  De 
Witt  Hyde,  Copyright,  191 1;  and  from  Property,  Its  Duties 
and  Rights,  by  Bishop  Gore.  The  Methodist  Book  Concern, 
for  permission  to  quote  from  Stewardship  Fundamental  in 
Creation,  by  Earl  Cranston,  Copyright,  1920;  Men  of  Fire, 
by  J.  W.  Mahood,  Copyright,  1920;  American  Tithers,  by 
James  L.  Sayler,  Copyright,  1918.  The  Abingdon  Press,  for 
Leaves  of  Life,  by  Margaret  Bird  Steinmetz,  Copyright,  1914; 
Laymen's  Missionary  Movement  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  and  for  Confessions  of  a  Business  Man.  Fleming  H. 
Revell  Company,  for  Fundamentals  of  Prosperity,  by  Roger 
W.  Babson,  and  The  Passion  for  Souls,  by  J.  H.  Jowett. 
Harper  &  Brothers,  for  Poems,  by  Dana  Burnet,  Copyright, 
1915,  and  The  Lesson^  by  Susie  M.  Best.  Reilly  &  Lee  Co.,  for 
A  Heap  O'Liznn',  by  Edgar  A.  Guest,  Copyright,  1916.  Dodge 
Publishing  Company,  New  York,  for  The  Sunlit  Road,  by  W. 
Garrett  Horder.    Little,  Brown  &  Co.,   for  Poems,  by  Emily 

11 


A  CKNO  WLEDGMENT 

Dickinson,  and  also  as  publishers  of  poems  by  Christina 
Rossetti  and  F.  W.  Bourdillon.  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  New 
York  and  London,  for  Each  in  His  Own  Tongue,  by  W.  H. 
Carruth.  Congregational  Publishing  Society,  for  Prayers  of 
the  Social  Awakening,  by  Walter  Rauschenbusch.  The  Cen- 
tury Company,  for  Collected  Plays  and  Poems,  by  Cale  Young 
Rice.  Harcourt,  Brace  &  Co.,  for  Economic  Imperialism,  by 
Leonard  Woolf.  To  The  International  Committee  of  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations,  for  the  prayers  by  David  R. 
Porter.  Association  Press,  New  York,  for  The  Business  Man 
and  His  Oversow,  by  William  E.  Sweet.  Houghton  Mifflin 
Co.,  for  poems  by  John  G.  Whittier,  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes, 
James  Russell  Lowell,  Louise  Imogen  Guiney.  D.  Appleton  & 
Co.,  for  Thanatopsis,  by  William  Cullen  Bryant.  The  Church- 
man for  Christian  Stewardship:  The  Way  Out,  by  William 
Austin  Smith.  The  Epworth  Herald  for  Harris  Franklin  Rail's 
article,  "Industry  Tomorrow,  A  Test  of  Christianity."  Thomas 
Bird  Mosher  for  Lizette  Woodworth  Reese's  poem,  "Whether 
We  Climb,  Whether  We  Plod,"  and  "Across  the  Fields  of 
Yesterday,"  by  Thomas  S.  Jones,  Jr.  W.  B.  Conkey,  for 
poems  by  Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox;  and  to  Charles  Scribner's 
Sons  for  selections  from  the  copyrighted  poems  by  Sidney 
Lanier,  Allan  Seegar,  Robert  Louis  Stevenson,  and  W.  E. 
Henley. 

Also  I  desire  to  express  my  appreciation  for  permission 
to  use  quotations  received  from  the  authors  themselves : 
Denis  A,  McCarthy,  poem,  "Who  Does  God's  Work?";  J.  W. 
Mahood,  Men  of  Fire;  Theodosia  Garrison,  poem,  "For  the 
Youth  They  Gave";  James  L.  Sayler,  "American  Tithers" 
Harris  Franklin  Rail,  article,  "Industry  Tomorrow,  A  Test 
of  Christianity";  Wilbur  Patterson  Thirkield,  prayers  from 
Service  and  Prayers;  James  R.  Joy,  editorials  in  The  Christian 
Advocate;  William  E.  Sweet,  The  Business  Man  and  His 
Overflow;  Susie  M.  Best,  poem,  "The  Lesson";  Margaret 
Bird  Steinmetz,  prayers  from  Leaves  of  Life;  Robert  E. 
Speer,  Prayer  and  Missions;  David  McConaughy,  Money,  the 
Acid  Test;  John  Alfred  Faulkner,  article  in  The  Christian 
Advocate,  November  24,  1921,  page  1483;  Cale  Young  Rice, 
poem,  "I  Know,  Lord,  Thou  Hast  Sent  Him";  Charlotte 
Perkins  Stetson,  poem,  "A  Man  Must  Live";  George  Innes, 
Confessions  of  a  Business  Man;  Dana  Burnet,  poem,  "Love's 
on   the   High   Road";    Richard   Burton,   poem,    "The   Human 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

Touch";  Lizette  Woodworth  Reese,  poem,  "Whether  We 
Climb,  Whether  We  Plod";  Thomas  S.  Jones,  Jr.,  poem, 
"Across  the  Fields  of  Yesterday." 

QUESTIONS 

1.  Why  was  this  book  written? 

2.  Outline  the  subjects  to  be  discussed.     (See  Contents.) 

3.  How  is  the  book  to  be  used? 

4.  In  this  study,  where  should  the  emphasis  be  placed?     (See 

The  New  Christian,  Study  Two,  pp.  22,^.  and  p.  140.) 

EXERCISES 

1.  Briefly  record  your  own  thought  on  the  need   for  such  a 

book,  and  on  the  topics  proposed  for  discussion.     This 
will  add  to  your  profit  in  the  further  study. 

2.  Make  a  statement  of  your  purpose  in  this  study. 

SUGGESTIONS 

1.  Prepare  for  this  study: 

(i)   Own  the  book. 

(2)  Secure    free    pamphlets    from    Stewardship    Head- 

quarters of  your  church. 

(3)  Have  a  notebook,  keep  notes. 

(4)  Study  with  others  if  possible. 

2.  Make  this   a   course   in   spiritual,    intellectual,    social,    and 

financial  efficiency. 


13 


CHAPTER  I 

Jesus'  Philosophy  of  Life 

INTRODUCTORY 
I 

James  Russell  Lowell  is  responsible  for  the  assertion 
that  "there  is  dynamite  enough  in  the  New  Testament  to 
blow  civilization  to  bits."  While  the  figure  is  unfortunate, 
for  truth  is  more  like  leaven  than  dynamite,  yet  there  is  a 
valuable  suggestion  in  the  statement.  Perhaps  Pastor 
Robinson  had  in  mind  the  same  thing  when  he  told  the  em- 
barking pilgrims  that  each  new  generation  makes  some 
fresh  and   transforming  discovery  out  of   God's   Book. 

What  is  stewardship  but  God's  word  for  this  generation! 
Recently  a  prominent  editor  declared,  "One  of  the  most 
noticeable  of  the  changes  that  the  war  period  has  brought 
about  is  the  modification  of  the  motives  of  business  men — 
their  deepened  sense  of  responsibility  and  their  recogni- 
tion of  the  fact  that  'big  business'  is  a  public,  social,  and 
professional  affair  existing  only  incidentally  for  the  en- 
richment of  business  leaders."  This  is  an  amazing  state- 
ment, but  not  more  to  be  wondered  at  than  the  increasing 
use  by  newspapers  and  magazines  of  the  word  "steward- 
ship" in  connection  with  international  relations.  These  are 
signs  of  the  times,  but  they  are  not  strange  to  the  student  of 
the  Scripture  who  has  been  waiting  for  the  day  when  the 
world  would  accept  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life,  which  is  stew- 
ardship. 

II 

Sooner  or  later  every  one  seeks  to  frame  some  sort  of 
explanation  of  life.  Very  often  a  little  child  will  ask  a 
question  that  indicates  the  early  yearning  to  discover  some 
divine  purpose  behind  the  things  that  are  seen  and  expressed. 

IS 


[I-i]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"What  is  it  all  about?"  was  the  way  a  high-school  boy  ex- 
pressed it.  Only  the  Christian  can  find  anything  like  a 
satisfactory  answer.  Paganism  attempts  it  and  fails ;  thus 
these  lines  of  the  Persian  poet: 

"Yet  Ah,  that  Spring  should  vanish  with  the  Rose ! 
That   Youth's    sweet-scented    manuscript    should   close  1 

The  nightingale  that  in   the  branches  sang, 
Ah,  whence,  and  whither  flown  again,  who  knows! 

"Ah  Love!  could  you  and  I  with  Him  conspire 
To  grasp  this  sorry   Scheme  of   Things  entire. 

Would  not  we  shatter  it  to  bits — and  then 
Remold  it  nearer  to  the  heart's  desire  !^ 

Contrast  the  words  of  the  Christian  writer : 

"The  same  old  baffling  questions ! 

0  my  friend,  I  cannot  answer  them. 

1  have  no  answer  for  myself  or  thee. 
Save  that  I  learned  beside  my  mother's  knee; 

'All  is  of  God  that  is,  and  is  to  be; 
And  God  is  good.'    Let  this  suffice  us  still, 
Resting  in  childhood  trust  upon  his  will 
Who  moves  to  his  great  ends  unthwarted  by  the  ill." 

Whittier  here  indicates  two  important  findings  in  the 
"mystery  of  things."  First  of  all,  "God  is  good,"  second, 
he  "moves  to  his  great  ends."  Both  are  vital.  God  is  not 
only  Love  and  Good,  but  he  is  supreme  intelligence.  He 
is  Divine  Love,  but  he  also  has  a  perfectly  intelligent  pro- 
gram for  the  ivorld.  When  we  speak  of  Jesus'  philosophy  of 
life,  we  really  mean  God's  philosophy  as  revealed  in  the  per- 
son of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ  was  God's  revelation  of  the 
truest  and  final  philosophy  of  life.  There  have  been  other 
philosophies  worthy  of  study,  but  the  philosophy  of  Jesus 
was  the  climax  of  them  all. 

In  his  book.  The  Five  Great  Philosophies  of  Life,^  William 
DeWitt  Hyde  points  out  the  inferiority  of  these  various 
attempts  of  men  to  frame  a  constructive  purpose  of  life. 
Beginning  with  the  philosophy  of  Epicurus,  "that  the  pur- 
suit of  pleasure  is  the  real  end  of  life,"  Dr.  Hyde  indicates 

*  The   Rubaiyat   of   Omar   Khayyam,    xcvl    and   xcix. 
2  The  MacmillaQ   Company,   New   York. 

i6 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-i] 

the  inadequacy  of  each  of  these  pagan  philosophies,  showing 
that  whatever  there  is  of  good  in  the  Stoic,  who  preached 
self-control  by  law,  or  in  the  Platonist  who  practiced  a 
my&tic  but  selfish  asceticism,  or  in  the  Aristotelian  who 
propounded  a  somewhat  lofty  gospel — but  for  the  few — the 
best  in  all  these  systems  finds  consummation  in  Jesus' 
philosophy  of  a  loving  steivardship.  For  instance,  the  words 
of  Henley  may  be  cited  as  Stoicism  in  its  most  attractive 
form : 

"Out  of  the  night  that  covers  me, 

Black  as  the  pit  from  pole  to  pole, 
I  thank  whatever  gods  may  be 
For  my  unconquerable  soul. 

"It  matters  not  how   strait  the  gate, 

How  charged  with  punishments  the  scroll, 
I  am  the  master  of  my  fate; 
I  am  the  captain  of  my  soUl." 

Lofty  as  these  sentiments  are,  they  are  pathetically  inade- 
quate. In  spite  of  mention  of  "the  gods,"  all  real  depend- 
ence upon  the  Almighty,  or  any  cooperation  in  his  program, 
is  left  out.  On  the  other  hand,  all  the  best  of  Stoicism  is 
preserved  to  us  in  these  Christian  lines  from  Robert  Brown- 
ing, which  not  only  breathe  of  the  eternal  purposes,  but  also 
point  to  the  Source  of  human  strength,  and  then  leave  us 
with  a  song  at  the  end  of  the  day : 

"I  go  to  prove  my  soul ! 
I  see  my  way  as  birds  their  trackless  way. 
I   shall  arrive !   what  time,  what  circuit  first, 
I  ask  not;  but  unless  God  send  his  hail 
Or  blinding  fireballs,  sleet  or  stifling  snow, 
In  some  time,  his  good  time,  I  shall  arrive : 
He  guides  me  and  the  bird.    In  his  good  time !" 

It  will  be  evident  that  the  outstanding  difference  between 
the  Christian  conception  of  life  and  that  of  the  pagan  lies 
in  the  emphasis  upon  a  personal  God,  who  has  a  benevolent 
program  for  the  saving  and  development  of  the  ivhole 
world,  and  in  this  program  there  is  given  to  every  person 
his  own  responsible  part.  Jesus  thus  taught  that  life  is  a 
stewardship. 

17 


[I-i]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

DAILY  READINGS 

First  Week— First  Day 

It  is  important,  first  of  all,  to  study  our  Lord's  philosophy 
as  demonstrated  in  his  own  life  consciousness.  In  the  scrip- 
ture that  follows  are  given  the  first  words  ever  recorded  as 
coming  from  the  lips  of  the  boy  Jesus.  There  are  at  least 
three  things  in  these  first  words  that  mark  a  new  epoch  in 
the  world's  thinking  about  life :  God  is  a  Father  with  a 
father's  compassion ;  the  Father  has  "business"  to  be  trans- 
acted in  the  world ;  as  the  son  of  his  Father  the  child's 
first  concern  should  be  his  Father's  business. 

Just  how  revolutionary  were  Jesus'  views  will  be  seen  by 
contrasting  them  with  some  of  the  current  philosophers  of 
that  day — and  perhaps  of  our  own.  Dr.  Luke  tells  us  (Acts 
17.  18)  that  when  Paul  was  in  Athens,  some  years  later, 
preaching  the  gospel'  of  Jesus,  "certain  philosophers  of 
the  Epicurean  and  Stoics  encountered  him  and  some  said, 
'What  will  this  babbler  say  ?' "  The  difference  between 
Christ's  philosophy  and  that  of  a  large  part  of  the  pagan 
world  is  indicated  by  comparing  the  words  of  Jesus  even  as 
a  boy  with  Dr.  Hyde's  impersonation  of  the  Epicurean 
preacher:  "Pleasure  is  our  great  task,  'the  gift  of  life,  the 
end  of  ends.'  To  be  happy  ourselves  and  radiating  centers 
of  happiness  to  choice  circles  of  congenial  friends — this  is 
the  Epicurean  ideal.  The  world  is  a  vast  reservoir  of  poten- 
tial pleasures.  Our  problem  is  to  scoop  out  for  ourselves 
and  our  friends  full  measure  of  these  pleasures  as  they  go 
floating  by.  We  did  not  make  the  world.  It  would  be  fool- 
ish for  us  to  try  to  alter  it.  Our  only  concern  is  to  get  out 
of  it  all  the  pleasure  we  can ;  without  troubling  ourselves 
to  put  anything  valuable  back  into  it.  Since  it  is  accidental, 
impersonal,  we  owe  it  nothing.  We  simply  owe  ourselves 
as  big  a  share  of  pleasure  as  we  can  grasp  and  hold." 

What  chasms  of  space  lie  between  these  words  of  pure 
selfishness,  and  those  spoken  by  Jesus  to  his  mother,  "Know 
ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business?"^  How 
the  words  burned  with  a  sense  of  a  divine  mission ! 

And  his  parents  went  every  year  to  Jerusalem  at  the 


iKing  James  version. 

18 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-i] 

feast  o£  the  passover.  And  when  he  was  twelve  years  old, 
they  went  up  after  the  custom  of  the  feast ;  and  when  they 
had  fulfilled  the  days,  as  they  were  returning,  the  boy 
Jesus  tarried  behind  in  Jerusalem;  and  his  parents  knew 
it  not ;  but  supposing  him  to  be  in  the  company,  they  went 
a  day's  journey;  and  they  sought  for  him  among  their 
kinsfolk  and  acquaintance :  and  when  they  found  him  not, 
they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  seeking  for  him.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  after  three  days  they  found  him  in  the 
temple,  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  teachers,  both  hearing 
them,  and  asking  them  questions :  and  all  that  heard  him 
were  amazed  at  his  understanding  and  his  answers.  And 
when  they  saw  him,  they  were  astonished;  and  his  mother 
said  unto  him.  Son,  why  hast  thou  thus  dealt  with  us? 
behold,  thy  father  and  I  sought  thee  sorrowing.  And  he 
said  unto  them.  How  is  it  that  ye  sought  me?  knew  ye 
not  that  I  must  be  in  my  Father's  house? — Luke  2.  41-49. 


MEDITATION 

"I  know,   Lord,  thou  hast  sent  him — 
Thou  art  so  good  to  me ! 
But  thou  hast  only  lent  him — 
His    heart's    for    thee ! 

"I  cannot  look  upon  him — 

So   strangely   burned   his   eyes ! 
Hath  not  some  grieving  driven  him 
From  Paradise?" 

"But  e'en  when  he  was  nursing, 
A  baby  at  my  breast, 
It  seemed  he  was  dispersing 
The  World's   unrest." 

— Cale   Young  Rice. 

Man,  by  living  wholly  in  submission  to  the  Divine  Influ- 
ence, becomes  surrounded  with,  and  creates  for  himself, 
internal  pleasures  infinitely  greater  than  any  he  can  other- 
wise attain  to — a  state  of  heavenly  Beatitude. — /.  P.  Greaves. 

God  is  a  kind  Father.  He  sets  us  all  in  the  places  where 
he  wishes  us  to  be  employed ;  and  that  employment  is  truly 
"our  Father's  business." — John  Ruskin. 

19 


[1-2]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  zvho  for  our  sakes  didst  humble  thy- 
self from  thy  dwelling  place  in  heaven,  teach  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  thy  will.  Cleanse  our  hearts  from  all  selfish  individ- 
ual ambitions,  and  show  us  thy  way.  Grant  us  to  be  stirred 
with  thy  passion  for  the  world,  that,  faithfully  follozving 
thy  leading  for  our  lives,  we  may  rejoice  with  thee  in  thy 
final  victory,  to  the  glory  of  thy  holy  name.    Amen. 


First  Week — Second  Day 

The  splendor  of  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life  lies  primarily  in 
his  basic  emphasis  upon  the  Fatherhood  of  the  Creator  and 
his  loving  concern  for  every  one  of  his  creatures.  The 
chasm  between  this  consciousness  of  Jesus  and  that  revealed  in 
this  prayer  of  the  pagan  philosopher  Seneca,  is  truly  pathetic: 
"O  Neptune,  you  may  save  me  if  you  will ;  you  may  sink  me 
if  you  will;  but  whatever  happens,  I  shall  keep  my  rudder 
true."  Notice  that  the  pagan  philosopher  is  determined  to 
work  out  his  highest  destiny  all  alone  in  spite  of  the  gods. 
Jesus  declares  that  before  he  was  born  there  was  an  intelli- 
gent and  loving  Providence  that  called  him  forth  to  be  a 
"witness  unto  the  truth"  and  a  steward  of  God.  To  this 
end  was  he  borii.  The  conviction  was  with  him  as  a  boy.  It 
grew  deeper  and  deeper  in  the  midst  of  the  years.  Now  at 
the  end  of  his  earthly  life  he  can  make  this  noble  declara- 
tion at  the  judgment  seat  of  the  Roman  ruler. 

Pilate  therefore  entered  again  into  the  Praetorium,  and 
called  Jesus,  and  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  the  King  of 
the  Jews?  Jesus  answered,  Sayest  thou  this  of  thyself, 
or  did  others  tell  it  thee  concerning  me?  Pilate  an- 
swered, Am  I  a  Jew?  Thine  own  nation  and  the  chief 
priests  delivered  thee  unto  me:  what  hast  thou  done? 
Jesus  answered.  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world:  if  my 
kingdom  were  of  this  world,  then  would  my  servants 
fight,  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews:  but 
now  is  my  kingdom  not  from  hence.  Pilate  therefore  said 
unto  him.  Art  thou  a  king  then?  Jesus  answered,  Thou 
sayest  that  I  am  a  king.     To  this  end  have  I  been  born,"^ 

^Italics  introduced  here  for  purpose  of  emphasis.  Not  italic  in  Scripture 
text. 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-3] 

and  to  this  end  am  I  come  into  the  world,  that  I  should 
bear  witness  unto  the  truth.  Everyone  that  is  of  the 
truth  heareth  my  voice. — John  18.  33-37. 

MEDITATION 

Therefore  as  every  man  is  wholly  God's  own  portion  by 
the  title  of  creation,  so  all  our  labors  and  care,  all  our 
powers  and  faculties  must  be  wholly  employed  in  the  serv- 
ice of  God,  and  even  all  the  days  of  our  life;  that  this  life 
being  ended,  we  may  live  with  him  forever. 

— Jeremy   Taylor. 

"O  strange  and  wild  is  the  world  of  men 
Which  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  must  see — 

With  continents,  islands,  tribes,  and  tongues, 
With  multitudes  bond  and   free ! 

All  kings  of  the  earth  bow  down  to  him, 
And  yet — he  can  think  of  me. 

"For  none  can  measure  the  mind  of  God 
Or  the  bounds   of   eternity; 
He  knows  each  life  that  has  come   from  him. 

To  the  tiniest  bird  and  bee. 
For  the  love  of  his  heart  is  so  deep  and  wide 
That  it  takes  in  even  me." 

—Mary  E.  Albright. 
A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  of  Hosts,  who  has  given  us  our  station  and  our 
weapons  in  thine  army  for  the  warfare  of  this  life,  setting 
comrades  beside  us  and  sending  Jesus  Christ  before  us;  make 
us  to  feel  the  glory  and  strength  of  thy  victorious  advance 
and  to  hear  triumph  song  where  Christ  marches  at  the  head 
of  his  saints,  conquering,  and  to  conquer;  for  his  sake.    Amen. 

— The  Indian  Prayer  Cycle. 

First  Week— Third  Day 

On  Sunday,  February  12,  1857,  the  mother  of  Phillips 
Brooks  wrote  in  her  diary,  "This  has  been  a  most  happy 
day  in  which  I  have  witnessed  the  confirmation  of  my  son 
Phillips,  aged  twenty-one,  at  Dorchester."  It  seems  strange 
that  this  great  American  preacher  did  not  actually  join  the 
church,    nor    dedicate   himself    fully   to    the    service    of    God, 

21 


[1-3]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

until  after  he  had  been  in  the  theological  school  for  some 
months.  For  years,  like  many  other  young  people,  he  seems 
to  have  been  confused  on  the  issue  of  whether  or  not  the 
largest  life  for  him  lay  in  the  absolute  abandonment  of  self 
to  God.  Robert  Louis  Stevenson  wrote :  "No  man  can  truly 
say  that  he  has  made  a  success  of  life  unless  he  has  written 
at  the  top  of  his  life  journal,  'Enter  God.'"  The  life  of 
Jesus  teaches  more  than  this.  It  is  not  enough  to  write 
"Enter  God."  He  must  enter  and  have  full  control.  The 
secret  of  the  success  of  Jesus  is  indicated  in  Dr.  John  R. 
Mott's  statement,  "The  will  of  God  was  Jesus'  north  star." 
That  star  shone  clearly  through  every  storm  and  in  the  hour 
of  terrific  temptation.  Confident  -that  the  fulfillment  of  life 
lies  in  doing  God's  will,  he  would  not  permit  himself  to  be 
allured  by  any  appeal  of  pagan  philosophy  for  self-interest  or 
self-indulgence.  Jesus  knew  that  his  highest  interest  lay  in 
the  fulfillment  of  his  God-given  stewardship. 

Then  was  Jesus  led  up  of  the  Spirit  into  the  wilder- 
ness to  be  tempted  of  the  devil.  And  when  he  had  fasted 
forty  days  and  forty  nights,  he  afterward  hungered.  And 
the  tempter  came  and  said  unto  him,  If  thou  art  the  Son 
of  God,  command  that  these  stones  become  bread.  But 
he  answered  and  said.  It  is  written,  Man  shall  not  live 
by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out 
of  the  mouth  of  God.  Then  the  devil  taketh  him  into  the 
holy  city;  and  he  set  him  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple, 
and  saith  imto  him,  If  thou  art  the  Son  of  God,  cast 
thyself  down:  for  it  is  written, 

He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  concerning  thee: 

and, 

On  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up, 

Lest  haply  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 

Jesus  said  unto  him.  Again  it  is  written.  Thou  shalt  not 
make  trial  of  the  Lord  thy  God.  Again,  the  devil  taketh 
him  unto  an  exceeding  high  mountain,  and  showeth  him 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of  them; 
and  he  said  imto  him,  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee, 
if  thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worship  me.  Then  saith  Jesus 
unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan:  for  it  is  written.  Thou 
shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou 
serve.  Then  the  devil  leaveth  him;  and  behold,  angels 
came  and  ministered  unto  him. — Matt.  4.  i-ii. 

22 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-4] 

MEDITATION 

"I  like  the  man  who   faces   what  he  must 
With  step  triumphant  and  a  heart  of  cheer; 
Who  fights  the  daily  battle  without  fear, 
Sees  his  hopes  fail,  yet  keeps  unfaltering  trust 
That  God  is  God;   that  somehow,   true  and  just, 
His  plans   work  out." 

— Sarah  Knowles  Bolton. 

God  has  a  life  plan  for  every  human  life  in  the  eternal  coun- 
sels of  his  will.  When  he  arranged  the  destiny  of  every  star 
and  every  sand-grain  and  every  grass  blade  and  each  of  those 
tiny  insects  which  live  but  for  an  hour,  the  Creator  had  a 
thought  for  you  and  me.  Our  life  was  to  be  the  slow  unfold- 
ing of  this  thought,  as  the  cornstalk  from  the  corn  or  the 
flower  from  the  gradually  opening  bud.  It  was  a  thought  of 
what  we  were  to  be,  of  what  we  might  become,  of  what  he 
would  have  us  to  do  with  our  days  and  years  of  influence  with 
our  lives. — Henry  Drummond. 

A  PRAYER 

Blessed  Christ,  who  hast  taught  us  that  we  may  have  life 
and  have  it  more  abundantly ;  purify  our  vision,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  being  enabled  to  see  thee  as  the  enlarger  of  all  life, 
we  may  perfectly  abandon  ourselves  to  thy  holy  will,  and  find 
in  thee  our  largest  consummation  and  bliss.    Amen. 


First  Week— Fourth  Day 

Next  to  his  consciousness  of  God,  both  as  sovereign  Lord 
and  the  heavenly  Father,  the  consuming  compassion  which 
Jesus  always  showed  for  the  multitudes  is  the  most  conspicu- 
ous feature  in  the  philosophy  of  Jesus.  He  insists  that  love 
to  God  would  best  be  shown  in  service  to  men.  But  there 
is  more  than  service  to  sharing  with  God  his  plans  for  the 
saving  of  all  his  children.  This  is  an  innovation  which  love 
threw  into  philosophy  that  has  always  staggered  pagan  think- 
ing. Plato  could  show  some  little  concern  for  a  small  group 
of  kindred  spirits.  It  was  a  great  advance  when,  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  before  Christ  came,  Aristotle  declared, 
"Thou  shalt  devote  thy  utmost  powers  to  some  section  of  our 

23 


[1-4]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

common  social  welfare,  and  shalt  hold  this  end  above  all 
lesser  goods,  such  as  pleasure,  money,  honor."  But  even  this 
high-water  mark  in  pagan  philosophy  does  not  approach  the 
personal  compassion  which  Jesus  showed  for  the  individual 
soul.  It  is  this  love,  even  for  the  undeserving,  that  has 
amazed  the  pagan  world.  A  good  illustration  comes  from 
China.  A  few  years  ago,  during  the  famine,  Dr.  J.  W. 
Bradley,  of  Suchien,  visited  a  village  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  families,  where  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  of 
them  were  living  on  potato  vines  in  February,  while  expect- 
ing a  harvest  in  June.  As  he  sat  down  to  eat  his  lunch  that 
day  a  crowd  of  starving  children  came  near.  He  could  not 
eat,  and  dividing  up  his  lunch  he  gave  it  out  as  far  as  it  would 
go.  A  man  sitting  near,  who  had  sold  everything  to  keep  his 
family  from  starving,  said  to  him :  "When  you  came  here  a 
few  years  ago  I  called  you  a  foreign  devil.  Now  I  see  you 
going  about  distributing  bread  to  my  people  and  ministering 
to  the  sick,  and  you  say  you  are  doing  this  for  Jesus.  Dr. 
Bradley,"  said  he,  "please  tell  me,  who  is  Jesus?" 

And  he  came  to  Nazareth,  where  he  had  been  brought 
up:  and  he  entered,  as  his  custom  was,  into  the  synagogue 
on  the  sabbath  day,  and  stood  up  to  read.  And  there  was 
delivered  unto  him  the  book  of  the  prophet  Isaiah.  And 
he  opened  the  book,  and  found  the  place  where  it  was 
written. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, 

Because  he  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  to  the 
poor: 

He  hath  sent  me  to  proclaim  release  to  the  captives. 

And  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind, 

To  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised. 

To  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord. 
And  he  closed  the  book,  and  gave  it  back  to  the  attendant, 
and  sat  down:  and  the  eyes  of  all  in  the  synagogue  were 
fastened  on  him.  And  he  began  to  say  unto  them.  To-day 
hath  this  scripture  been  fulfilled  in  your  ears. — Luke  4. 
16-21. 

MEDITATION 

Jesus  taught  us  to  make  every  human  interest  we  touch  as 
precious  as  our  own,  and  to  treat  all  persons  with  whom 
we  deal  as  members  of  that  beneficent  system  of  mutual  good- 

24 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-5] 

will    which    is    the    Kingdom    of    Heaven. — William    DeWitt 
Hyde. 

"  'I  worked  for  men,'  my  Lord  will  say 
When  we  meet  at  the  end  of  the  King's  highway. 
'Walked  with   the  beggar  along  the   road, 
I  kissed  the  bondsman  stung  by  the  goad, 
I  bore  my  half  of  the  porter's   load. 
And  what  did  you?'  my  Lord  will  say, 
'As  you  traveled  along  the  King's  highway?' 

"  'I  made  life  sweet,'  my  Lord  will  say 
When  we  meet  at  the  end  of  the  King's  highway. 
'I  smoothed  the  path  where  the  thorns  annoy, 
I  gave  the  mother  back  her  boy, 
I  me,nded  the  children's  broken  toy. 
And  what  did  you?'  my  Lord  will  say, 
'As  you  traveled  along  the  King's  highway?'" 

— Robert  Davis. 

A  PRAYER 

Lord  Jesus,  help  us  to  love  men  even  as  thou  didst  love 
them.  Give  us  this  day  the  spirit  of  thy  compassion.  Keep 
us  from  wounding  any  heart  or  adding  to  the  burden  of  any 
life;  and  if,  when  this  day  is  done,  we  be  privileged  to  feel 
the  joy  of  having  cheered  some  toiler  at  his  task,  thine  be  the 
praise  and  the  glory  forever.    Amen. 


First  Week— Fifth  Day 

A  few  years  ago  Theodore  Roosevelt  was  frequently  re- 
ported as  saying  in  characteristic  language,  "I  like  my  job." 
Let  it  be  said  with  emphasis  that  it  is  God's  desire  that  every- 
one should  enjoy  his  task.  John  Ruskin  declares,  "We  may 
always  be  sure,  whatever  we  are  doing,  that  we  cannot  be 
pleasing  Him  if  we  are  not  happy  ourselves."  Because  Jesus 
will  not  tolerate  the  pagan  philosophy  that  pleasure-seeking 
and  self-interest  are  the  chief  end  of  life,  it  should  not  be  for- 
gotten that  happiness  is  an  important  item  in  Jesus'  philosophy. 
The  distinction  being  that  Jesus  teaches  that  happiness  comes 
not  by  making  it  the  chief  quest  of  life  but  as  the  result  of 
faithful  stewardship.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  acceptance 
of   Jesus'  philosophy  of   life  is   the   only   way  by   which   the 

25 


[1-5]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

world  can  finally  be  flooded  with  divine  joy.  All  the  prob- 
lems of  pain  and  pleasure  which  occupied  so  large  a  place  in 
the  pagan  philosophies  are  solved  by  Jesus'  loyalty  to  the 
program  of  his  Father.  However  heroic  may  be  the  demands 
of  his  stewardship,  Jesus  teaches  that  it  was  his  "joy"  and  his 
"meat"  to  do  the  will  of  God. 

"O  joy  that  seekest  me  through  pain, 

I  cannot  close  my  heart  to  thee; 
I  trace  the  rainbow  through  the  rain, 
And   feel  the  promise  is  not  vain 

That  morn  shall  tearless  be." 

In  the  mean  while  the  disciples  prayed  him,  saying, 
Rabbi,  eat.  But  he  said  imto  them,  I  have  meat  to  eat 
that  ye  know  not.  The  disciples  therefore  said  one  to 
another,  Hath  any  man  brought  him  aught  to  eat?  Jesus 
saith  unto  them.  My  meat  is  to  do  the  will  of  him  that 
sent  me,  and  to  accomplish  his  work.  .  .  .  If  ye  keep 
my  commandments,  ye  shall  abide  in  my  love ;  even  as 
I  have  kept  my  Father's  commandments,  and  abide  in 
his  love.  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  my 
joy  may  be  in  you,  and  that  your  joy  may  be  made  full. 
— John  4.  31-34;  15-  10,  II. 

MEDITATION 

To  do  the  work  and  seize  the  joy  of  each  day  as  it  comes, 
so  that  the  forward  look  shall  not  dim  our  eyes  to  the 
beauty  along  the  road ;  and  to  let  the  light  of  the  Christ- 
revealed  God  fall  on  every  scene  and  time,  leading  us  to 
regard  every  touch  of  loveliness  in  earth  and  sky,  every  sweet 
affection  and  fellowship,  every  holy  thought  and  aspiration 
as  signs  that  behind  all  the  mystery  of  this  strange  world  there 
is  a  Great  Heart  of  Love,  in  whose  keeping  we  are  safe; 
these  are  little  counsels  to  guide  us  in  the  pilgrim  way. — W. 
Garrett  Harder. 

"Thy  love  shall  chant  its  own  beatitudes 
After  its  own  life  working.     A  child's  kiss 
Set   on   thy   sighing   lips   shall   make   thee   glad; 
A  poor  man  served  by  thee  shall  make  thee  rich; 
A  sick  man  helped  by  thee  shall  make  thee  strong; 
Thou  shalt  be  served  thyself  by  every  sense 
Of  service  which  thou  renderest." 

— Elisabeth  Barrett  Browning. 

26 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [1-6] 

A  PRAYER 

0  God,  the  day  returns  and  brings  a  thousand  joyous  oppor- 
tunities; help  us  to  make  the  most  of  every  one.  Teach  us  to 
be  glad.  Grant  that  our  eyes  may  all  day  long  behold  thy 
blue;  that  every  song  of  bird  may  find  an  echo  in  our  hearts; 
or  if  the  sky  be  overcast  and  gathering  storms  have  hushed 
the  notes  of  birds,  grant  that  we  then  may  draw  from -out 
of  the  treasure  storehouse  of  our  souls,  and  still  be  glad  in 
thee.    Amen. 


First  Week— Sixth  Day 

Jesus  reveals  his  consciousness  that  his  life  is  a  steward- 
ship, planned  by  the  Father,  in  his  constant  dependence  upon 
God.  The  steward  must  frequently  report  and  consult  with 
his  Lord.  The  Father  is  the  source  not  only  of  the  program 
but  of  the  power  that  his  human  representative  shall  need  in 
every  part  of  the  task.  The  son  is  still  the  steward  and  no 
exception  to  the  rule.  Many  were  the  nights  he  spent  in 
prayer  while  his  disciples  slept,  thus  showing  that  with  the 
deepening  sense  of  stewardship  comes  the  growing  burden  of 
responsibility  which  drives  men  into  a  closer  communion  with 
God.  So  habitual  had  this  communion  become  in  Jesus'  life 
that  his  only  rehef  in  the  dark  hours  of  Gethsemane  was  to 
lose  himself  in  the  will  of  God. 

And  he  came  out,  and  went,  as  his  custom  was,  unto 
the  mount  of  Olives;  and  the  disciples  also  followed 
him.  And  when  he  was  at  the  place,  he  said  unto  them, 
Pray  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation.  And  he  was 
parted  from  them  about  a  stone's  cast;  and  he  kneeled 
down  and  prayed,  saying.  Father,  if  thou  be  willing,  re- 
move this  cup  from  me;  nevertheless  not  my  will,  but 
thine,  be  done.  And  there  appeared  unto  him  an  angel 
from  heaven,  strengthening  him. — Luke   22.   39-43. 

MEDITATION 

"Into  the  woods  my  Master  went, 
Clean    forspent,    forspent. 
Into  the  woods  my  Master  came, 
Forspent  with  love  and  shame. 


[1-7]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Out  of  the  woods  my  Master  went, 
And   he  was  well   content. 
Out  of  the  woods  my  Master  came, 
Content  with  love  and  shame." 

— Sidney  Lanier. 

It  is  not  so  much  resolution  as  renunciation,  not  so  much 
courage  as  resignation,  that  we  need.  He  that  has  once 
yielded  thoroughly  to  God  will  yield  to  nothing  but  God. — 
John   Ruskin. 

A  PRAYER 

My  heart  needs  thee,  O  Lord,  my  heart  needs  thee!  No 
part  of  my  being  needs  thee  like  my  heart.  .  .  .  Be  thou 
the  strength  of  my  heart.  Be  thou  its  fortress  in  temptation, 
its  shield  in  remorse,  its  covert  in  the  storm,  its  star  in  the 
night,  its  voice  in  the  solitude!  .  .  .  I  cannot  rule  this  heart 
of  mine;  keep  it  under  the  shadow  of  thine  own  wings! — 
George  Matheson. 


First  Week— Seventh  Day 

"'Does  the  road  wind  up-hill  all  the  way?' 
'Yes,  to  the  very  end.' 
'Will  the  day's  journey  take  the  whole  long  day?' 
'From  morn  to  night,  my  friend.'  " 

The  conviction  expressed  in  these  lines  by  Christina  Rossetti 
concerning  the  steward's  pilgrimage,  is  expressed  in  still  an- 
other way  by  the  apostle  Paul  when  he  says,  "It  is  required 
in  a  steward  that  he  be  found  faithful."  Both  the  poet  and 
the  apostle  had  before  them  the  example  of  our  Lord.  Faith- 
fulness to  the  end  is  the  crozvn  of  stewardship.  Not  so  much 
the  quantity  or  even  the  character  of  the  service,  but  unswerv- 
ing devotion  "to  the  very  end,"  is  what  God  requires  of  his 
stewards.  This  is  the  example  set  us  by  the  Master  himself. 
He  endured  the  cross,  despised  the  shame,  and  gloried  in  his 
dying  breath  that  he  had  accomplished  the  work  that  his 
Father  had  given  him  to  do.  In  those  majestic  words,  "It 
is  finished,"  Jesus  offers  his  final  and  overwhelming  vindica- 
tion of  the  philosophy  of  his  life. 

These  things  spake  Jesus;   and  lifting  up  his  eyes  to 
2& 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-7] 

heaven,  he  said,  Father,  the  hour  is  come ;  glorify  thy  Son, 
that  the  Son  may  glorify  thee;  even  as  thou  gavest  him 
authority  over  all  flesh,  that  to  all  whom  thou  hast  given 
him  he  should  give  eternal  life.  And  this  is  life  eternal,  that 
they  should  know  thee  the  only  true  God,  and  him  whom 
thou  didst  send,  even  Jesus  Christ.  I  glorified  thee  on 
the  earth,  having  accomplished  the  work  which  thou  hast 
given  me  to  do,  .  .  .  After  this  Jesus,  knowing  that 
all  things  are  now  finished,  that  the  s^cripture  might  be 
accomplished,  saith,  I  thirst.  There  was  set  there  a 
vessel  full  of  vinegar;  so  they  put  a  sponge  full  of  the 
vinegar  upon  hyssop,  and  brought  it  to  his  mouth.  When 
Jesus  therefore  had  received  the  vinegar,  he  said,  It  is 
finished:  and  he  bowed  his  head,  and  gave  up  his  spirit. — 
John  17.  1-4;   19.  28-30. 

MEDITATION 

"I  cannot  think  or  reason, 
I   only  know   he  came 
With  hands  and  feet  of  healing 
And  wild  heart  all  aflame. 

"With  eyes  that  dimmed  and  softened 

At  all  the  things  he  saw, 
And  in  his  pillared  singing 
I  read  the  Marching  Law." 

—Willard  Wattles. 

The  great  moral  combat  between  human  life  and  each 
human  soul  must  be  single.  .  .  .  When  a  soul  arms  for 
battle  he  goes  forth  alone. — Owen  Meredith. 

Nothing  earthly  will  cause  me  to  give  up  my  work  in  de- 
spair. I  encourage  myself  in  the  Lord  God,  and  go  forward. — 
David  Livingstone. 

A  PRAYER 

O  thou  Lamb  of  God  that  takest  away  the  sin  of  the  world; 
we  need  not  cry  to  thee  for  mercy  upon  tis.  Help  us  to  have 
mercy  upon  ourselves.  Thou  hast  loved  iis  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  thou  wilt  forgive  us  our  sins  when,  despising  our 
repeated  unfaithfulness,  we  do,  in  deed  and  truth,  set  our 
faces  to  the  cross.  Help  us,  we  beseech  thee,  for  thy  name's 
sake.    Amen. 

29 


OUTLINE— FIRST   WEEK.     JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY 
OF  LIFE 

1.  Introductory.      * 

(a)  Philosophy  of  Life. 

(b)  Christian  or  Pagan. 

2.  First  Day:  Philosophy  Must  Be  Livable. 

3.  Second  Day :  Philosophy  Must  Include  Others. 

4.  Third  Day :  Philosophy  Must  Include  God. 

5.  Fourth  Day:  Love   in  Jesus'   Philosophy. 

6.  Fifth  Day:  Happiness  Important. 

7.  Sixth  Day:  Prayer  Necessary. 

8.  Seventh  Day :  Faithfulness  the  Crowning  Virtue. 


QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  is  the  power  called  "dynamite"  by  Lowell? 

b.  Is  it  necessary  that  we  make  "fresh   and  transforming 

discoveries"    in   the    Bible?     Why?     What   have   you 
discovered  for  yourself  in  the  Bible,  recently? 

c.  Is  God's  Word  to  man  a  finished  product? 

d.  What  signs  of  acceptance  of  stewardship  are  found  in 

business,  daily  press,  and  magazines? 

e.  How  can  stewardship  be  called  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life? 

2.  a.  Why  is  it  important  to  study  the  life  of  Jesus  with  his 

philosophy  of  the  stewardship  of  life? 

b.  Where  may   we   find  Jesus'   philosophy   of   life?     Does 

pagan  philosophy  teach  the  stewardship  of  life? 

c.  What  sort  of  a  Father-God  did  Jesus  reveal  at  twelve 

years  of  age? 

d.  Why  was  the  world  antagonistic  to  the  Christian  philos- 

ophy when  it  came? 

e.  In   the   Epicurean's   statement   of   life's  philosophy   how 

much  truth  do  you  find? 
/.  Does  good  stewardship  imply  that  we  accept  the  place 
in  which  we  find  ourselves  as  God's  choice  for  us  and 

30 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-o] 

not  make  any  attempt  to  win  a  higher  and  a  better 
place  ? 

3.  a.  In  what  sense  is  God  our  Father  and  what  difference 

does  it  make  whether  we  recognize  it  or  not? 

b.  In  what  sense  is  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  not  of 

this  world? 

c.  What  did  Jesus  mean  when  he  claimed  all  truth  and  the 

believers  of  all  truth? 

d.  How  can  we  be  free  agents  and  belong  to  God? 

4.  a.  What  did  Robert  Louis  Stevenson  mean  in  the  sentence 

quoted,  and  how  much  further  should  he  have  gone 
with  the  declaration? 

b.  Whence   come   our    temptations? 

c.  At  what  three  points  was  Jesus  attacked  in  the  tempta- 

tion? 

d.  What  must  I  do  before  God  can  guide  me? 

e.  Has  God  but  one  plan,  which  I  must  find  for  myself  or 

fail? 

5.  a.  What  was  Jesus*   attitude  toward   humanity? 

b.  In  revealing  God  to  man,  what  elements  of  personality, 

besides   intellectual    understanding,    must   be   enlisted? 

c.  How   far  is   it  possible  to   make   every   human    interest 

and  contact  as  precious  as  our  own  interests? 

d.  Is  kindness,  as  an  expression  of  love,  the  supreme  human 

virtue? 

6.  a.  Should  we  attempt  any  work  and  remain  in  it  if  we  do 

not  hke  our  job? 

b.  Is  there  a  stewardship  of  cheer  and  what  do  you  under- 

stand by  joy  of  life  as  Jesus  taught  it? 

c.  What  necessary  service  does  pain  perform  in  our  stew- 

ardship? 

d.  Is  keeping  the  commandments  a  method  of  abiding  in 

love  and  the  love  of  God,  or  is  it  the  result? 

7.  a.  What  is  the  first  requisite  to  faithful  stewardship — the 

acceptance  of  intellectual  belief,  the  adopting  of  a  pro- 
gram, or  coming  into  counsel  with  the  supreme 
Partner? 

b.  What  has  renunciation  to  do  with  a  life  of  stewardship? 

c.  Why  is  it  so  necessary  that  we  have  emotional  conscious- 

ness of  the  presence  of  God? 

31 


[I-o]  THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

8.  a.  Have  we  any  right  to  be  proud  when  we  have  done  a 
good  work?    To  whom  should  we  do  our  boasting? 
b.  What  does  this  mean — 

"Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children, 
So  Jehovah  pitieth  them  that  fear  him?" 

EXERCISES 

1.  What  is  a  philosophy  of  life;  have  we  all  one  of  our  own? 

("I  know  that  you  have  a  philosophy,  each  and  all  of 
you,  and  that  the  most  interesting  and  important  thing 
about  you  is  the  way  in  which  it  determines  the  perspec- 
tive in  your  several  worlds.  .  .  •  .  The  philosophy 
which  is  so  important  in  each  of  us  is  not  a  technical 
matter;  it  is  our  more  or  less  dumb  sense  of  what  life 
honestly  and  deeply  means." — William  James,  Pragma- 
tism, pp.  3,  4.) 

2.  What  difference  do  you  find  between  pagan  and  Christian 

philosophy  of  Khayyam  and  Whittier? 

3.  Does  God  "move  to  his  great  ends"  regardless  of  man,  or 

may  we  with  him  "remold  it  nearer  to  the  heart's  de- 
sire"? 

4.  How  may  we  know  God's  purposes  for  his  world  and  for 

us  individually? 

5.  What  are  the  five  great  philosophies  of  life?    Define  each. 

(Also  see  Standard  Dictionary.)  How  does  Chris- 
tianity include  the  good  of  all  pagan  philosophies? 

6.  How  far  should  we  seek  pleasure  for  itself?     Is  suffering 

an  indication  of  piety?  Are  we  making  the  world  better 
by  causing  pain  to  ourselves  or  to  others? 

7.  When    we    fight    with    and    for    the    Lord,    are    we    given 

strength  of  our  own,  or  is  the  Divine  strength  merely 
directed  through  us,  leaving  us  as  weak  as  we  were  be- 
fore? Is  there  a  transformation  of  the  character  of  the 
steward? 

8.  Point  out  the  wisdom  of  Phillips  Brooks  in  being  deliber- 

ate in  choosing  to  follow  God. 

9.  Write  your  own  hfe  plan. 

10.  Apply  "Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it"  to  your  own  daily  life. 

32. 


JESUS'  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIFE  [I-o] 

11.  What  is   the  relation  of   work  done  and  joy  realized   in 

Jesus'  philosophy  of  stewardship? 

12.  Is    faithfulness   an    active    virtue?      How    does    it    work? 

Write  your  opinion. 

13.  What   reinforcements   may   a    Christian    steward   have   in 

fighting  his  battles? 

14.  Outline  at  least  seven  characteristics  of  the  life  of  stew- 

ardship which  Jesus  taught. 


33 


CHAPTER  II 


God's   Stewardship 

INTRODUCTORY 

In  the  preceding  chapter  we  saw  something  of  the  mean- 
ing of  stewardship  as  revealed  in  the  life  purposes  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In  this  chapter  we  shall  see  how  God  him- 
self has  chosen  to  place  his  own  powers  and  resources  under 
the  law  of  stewardship — ^the  same  law  that  he  made  for  his 
creatures.  Indeed,  Jesus  learned  his  philosophy  of  life  from 
the  character  and  purposes  of  his  heavenly  Father.  When 
Jesus  is  asked  "What  am  I  here  for?"  he  answers  by  telling 
what  God  is  here  for.     We  sing,  sometimes, 

"He  saw  me  plunged  in  deep  distress, 
He  flew  to  my  relief  ; 
For  me  he  bore  the  shameful  cross, 
And  carried  all  my  grief." 

But  the  glory  of  Jesus,  in  his  life  and  death  on  earth,  lies 
in  the  ultimate  truth  that  he  was  perfectly  serving  as  the 
divine  agent  of  his  heavenly  Father.  That  God  is  not  only 
the  sovereign  Lord,  to  whom  every  one  of  his  stewards  shall 
some  day  give  an  account,  but  that  he  has  set  a  high  and 
holy  example  of  voluntarily  placing  himself  under  the  laju 
of  stewardship,  is,  perhaps,  the  most  impressive  fact  in  the 
whole  universe. 

Matthew  Arnold  declared  that  the  greatest  hymn  in  the 
English  language  was  that  which  begins  with  the  familiar 
lines, 

"When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 
On  which  the  Prince  of  Glory  died." 

But  Calvary  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  supreme 
effort  in  a  continuous  appeal  to  humanity,  which  was  first 
expressed  in  the  Creation,  where  God  pledged  all  his  resources 
in  the  ministry  of  humanity.     The  example  of  such  a  conse- 

34 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [Il-i] 

cration  is  staggering  when  realized.  "Consider  him  that  hath 
endured  such  gainsaying  of  sinners  against  himself,  that  ye 
wax  not  weary,  fainting  in  your  souls,"  is  the  exhortation 
that  the  writer  gives  in  Hebrews.  How  shameful  is  the  sel- 
fishness of  the  best  of  Christians  when  placed  in  the  light  of 
the  voluntary  consecration  of  God! 

Commenting  on  this,  Bishop  Earl  Cranston  says :  "It  seems 
incredible  that  men,  confessing  themselves  redeemed  and 
regenerated,  are  still  debating  the  obligations  of  steward- 
ship. It  cannot  be  that  they  who  find  their  chief  satisfaction 
in  adding  to  their  hoardings,  and  who  pinch  all  they  owe  to 
God  into  a  tithe  and  the  tithe  into  a  pittance,  realize  how 
desperate  is  their  trifling  with  God  and  their  own  souls.  The 
duty  of  making  return  to  God  inheres  not  in  church  mem- 
bership but  in  responsible  manhood.  It  is  fundamental  in 
our  very  being.  Church  vows  simply  register  individual 
recognition  of  the  obligation.  Every  man  must  live  as  unto 
his  fellow  man  whether  he  professes  to  live  unto  God  or  not. 
The  universal  principle  does  not  wait  on  his  acceptance  of  it. 
The  world  has  no  use  or  place  for  misers,  but  for  the  world's 
sake  a  man  would  better  be  a  miser  than  a  rich  profligate, 
rotting  in  his  wealth,  and  by  his  contempt  of  decency  and 
honor  corrupting  the  young  and  outraging  society.  Physical 
self-indulgence  lies  in  its  infamy  in  body  and  mind.  Luxury 
invites  decay.  This  is  nature's  penalty  for  its  violated  law 
of  stewardship."^ 

It  should  be  kept  in  mind  throughout  the  study  of  this 
chapter  that  there  was  only  one  reservation  that  God  made 
when  he  placed  all  his  resources  at  the  disposal  of  humanity. 
This  was  his  sovereign  ownership  of  all  his  creation.  No- 
where in  Scripture  is  it  indicated  that  God  for  one  moment 
gives  up  this  supreme  relationship.  But  it  will  be  seen  that 
even  this  reservation  was  made  in  love  for  the  moral  and 
spiritual  benefit  of  humanity.  Beginning  with  the  first  tragedy 
in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  and  continuing  down  to  the  industrial 
difficulties  of  the  present  hour,  most  of  the  trouble  that  has 
come  to  humanity  has  come  as  a  result  of  man's  failure 
sacredly  to  recognize  this  eternal  truth.  There  can  be  no 
genuine  sense  of  Christian  stewardship  unless  it  springs  from 
a  profound  conviction  of   God's   sovereign   ownership. 


iStewardship  Fundamental   in   Creation,    pamphlet,    p.  7.     The  Methodist 
Book  Concern,  New  York. 

35 


[II-i]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

DAILY  READINGS 

Second  Week— First  Day 

As  far  as  known  to  mortal  mind,  the  story  of  creation  is 
the  first  revelation  of  God's  personal  sense  of  stewardship. 
If  one  is  looking  for  the  picture  of  a  lonesome  God,  he  can 
find  it  in  this  description  of  the  Spirit  of  God  mourning 
over  the  face  of  the  deep,  restless  until  all  his  vast  resources 
have  been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  "others."  Sam  Walter 
Foss  wrote : 

"There  are  hermit  souls  that  live  withdrawn 

In  the  place  of  their  self-content. 
There  are  souls,  like  stars,  that  dwell  apart, 
In  a  fellowless  firmament." 

But  it  could  not  be  so  with  God.  It  was  contrary  to  his 
character,  just  as  it  is  contrary  to  the  character  of  any  good 
steward  to  find  pleasure  in  lavishing  on  himself  the  resources 
in  his  possession.  Paul  points  to  a  cardinal  principle  of  stew- 
ardship when  he  says,  "None  of  us  liveth  to  himself."  But 
this  principle  first  came  from  the  heart  of  God  who  found  it 
impossible  to  live  unto  himself,  and  yearning  for  a  race  of 
men  who  would  move  at  the  same  impulses  "God  created 
man   in   his  own   image." 

In  the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth.  And  the  earth  was  waste  and  void;  and  dark- 
ness was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep:  and  the  Spirit  of 
God  moved  upon  the  face  of  the  waters.  .  .  .  And 
God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our 
likeness:  and  let  them  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of 
the  sea,  and  over  the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  over  the 
cattle,  and  over  all  the  earth,  and  over  every  creeping 
thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth.  And  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image,  in  the  image  of  God  created  he 
him;  male  and  female  created  he  them.  And  God  blessed 
them:  and  God  said  unto  them,  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply, 
and  replenish  the  earth,  and  subdue  it;  and  have  domin- 
ion over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the  birds  of  the 
heavens,  and  over  every  living  thing  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth. — Gen.  i.  1-2;  26-28. 

36 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-2] 

MEDITATION 

But  the  climax  of  demonstration  of  stewardship  appears 
in  God's  application  of  the  principle  of  stewardship  in  his 
sovereign  relation.  Being  all-sufficient  unto  himself  in  his 
infinite  attributes,  he,  nevertheless,  counts  it  his  chief  glory- 
to  graciously  administer  the  exhaustive  resources  of  his 
material  empire  for  the  benefit  of  his  peopled  world. — Bishop 
Earl   Cranston. 

"A  fire-mist  and   a  planet — 

A  crystal  and  a  cell — 

A  jellyfish   and    a   saurian. 

And    caves    where    the    cave-men    dwell : 
Then   a   sense   of   law   and   beauty, 

A  face  turned  from  the  clod — 
Some  call  it  evolution, 
And  others  call  it  God." 

— William  Herbert  Carruth. 

A  PRAYER 

0  Eternal  God,  our  everlasting  Father,  we  praise  thee,  we 
adore  thee,  we  worship  thee.  Surely  thou  hast  created  us 
in  thine  own  image,  for  we  are  not  at  rest,  save  in  thy  pres- 
ence. Glorify  thyself  in  us  to-day,  that,  being  good  stew- 
ards of  thy  boundless  compassion,  we  may  be  faithful  chil- 
dren of  so  gracious  a  Father,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord.    Amen. 


Second  Week — Second  Day 

"God  teaching  stewardship"  might  well  be  the  caption  to  the 
story  of  the  garden  of  Eden.  Parenthood  involves  respon- 
sibility. The  father  is  bound  to  pass  on  his  principles  to  his 
children.  Creation  was  a  supreme  venture  on  the  part  of  God 
in  producing  a  breed  of  men  zvho  would  share  with  him  the 
enjoyment  and  administration  of  his  boundless  resources.  No 
yearning  mother  could  bend  more  wistfully  over  the  cradle 
of  her  child  than  did  God  over  the  cradle  of  the  race.  Only 
a  parent  who  has  knelt  beside  some  little  cot  to  pray  that 
his  first-born  might  be  a  blessing  to  the  world,  can  know 
how  eagerly  God  planned  that  garden  "to  grow  every  tree 
that   is  pleasant,"  and   how   yearningly   he    desired   that   the 

37 


[II-2]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

child  should  share  his  Father's  passion  for  the  welfare  of 
the  world.  It  is  not  quite  true  that  "God  had  only  one 
Son  and  he  made  him  a  missionary";  God  has  had  mil- 
lions of  sons,  and  from  the  beginning  he  has  sought  to  make 
them  all  missionaries  in  the  truest  sense  that  everyone  should 
regard  his  life  as  a  sacred  trust. 

An  excited  manufacturer  confronted  with  a  strike  among 
his  employees  was  overheard  to  say,  "I  am  just  childish 
enough  to  believe  that  what  is  mine  is  my  own,  and  when 
my  old  dad  turned  over  to  me  this  mill,  along  with  his  gold 
watch  and  the  old  family  horse,  he  meant  that  I  should 
do  with  it  just  as  I  pleased."  On  the  contrary,  God  was 
trying  to  help  his  first  children  to  avoid  this  false  philosophy. 
Not  as  owner,  hut  as  caretaker  was  Adam  installed  "to 
dress  the  garden  and  keep  it,"  and  the  injunction  "Of  one 
tree  thou  shalt  not  eat"  was  God's  loving  way  of  continu- 
ously advertising  to  the  son  the  proprietorship  of  the  Father. 
In  its  legal  sense  that  first  offense  was  "a  challenge  of  God's 
right  to  control  the  domain  he  had  created,"  but  it  was  even 
more  than  this — it  was  the  refusal  of  a  child  to  follow  his 
Father  in  consecration  of  Hfe  and  resources  for  the  up- 
building of  the  world.  Tragedy  alone  could  be  the  result. 
They  hid  themselves  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

And  Jehovah  God  planted  a  garden  eastward,  in  Eden; 
and  there  he  put  the  man  whom  he  had  formed.  And  out 
of  the  ground  made  Jehovah  God  to  grow  every  tree  that 
is  pleasant  to  the  sight,  and  good  for  food;  the  tree  of 
life  also  in  the  midst  of  the  garden,  and  the  tree  of  the 
knowledge  of  good  and  evil.  .  .  .  And  Jehovah  God 
took  the  man,  and  put  him  into  the  garden  of  Eden  to 
dress  it  and  to  keep  it.  And  Jehovah  God  commanded  the 
man,  saying.  Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  thou  mayest 
freely  eat :  but  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and 
evil,  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it:  for  in  the  day  that  thou 
eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die.  .  .  .  And  when 
the  woman  saw  that  the  tree  was  good  for  food,  and 
that  it  was  a  delight  to  the  eyes,  and  that  the  tree  was 
to  be  desired  to  make  one  wise,  she  took  of  the  fruit 
thereof,  and  did  eat;  and  she  gave  also  unto  her  hus- 
band with  her,  and  he  did  eat.  .  .  .  And  they  heard 
the  voice  of  Jehovah  God  walking  in  the  garden  in  the 
cool  of  the  day:  and  the  man  and  his  wife  hid  them- 
selves from  the  presence   of  Jehovah  God  amongst  the 

38 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-3] 

trees  of  the  garden.     And  Jehovah  God  called  unto  the 
man. — Gen.  2.  8,  9,  15-17;  3.  6,  8,  9. 

MEDITATION 

The  love  that  builds  palatial  homes  and  fills  them  with 
luxurious  furnishings  and  costly  statuary  is  not  love  for 
God  or  humanity.  I  do  not  envy  homes  built  for  family 
prestige.  I  tremble  for  their  inmates  lest  they  banish  Christ, 
who  loves  the  lowly,  lonely,  hungry,  shivering,  neglected  ones. 
He  allows  comfort,  but  not  luxury  until  all  God's  claims  have 
been  met,  and  never  were  more  millions  facing  starvation 
than  to-day  right  in  the  heart  of  Christendom.  It  is  surely 
not  God's  time  for  building  fortunes  out  of  his  bounty,  or 
for  the  American  people  to  be  untrue  to  their  stewardship 
of  freedom  and  equal  opportunities  for  all  peoples. — Bishop 
Earl  Cranston. 

"Whether   we    climb,    whether   we   plod. 
Space  for  one  task  the  scant  years  lend — 
To  choose  some  path  that  leads  to  God, 
And  keep  it  to  the  end." 

— Lizette   Woodworth  Reese. 

A  PRAYER 

How  precious  also  are  thy  thoughts  unto  me,  O  God! 

How  great  is  the  sum  of  them! 
If  I  should  count  them,  they  are  more  in  number  than  the 
sand: 

When  I  awake,  I  am  still  with  thee. 

Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart: 

Try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts; 
And  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me. 

And  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. 

— The  Psalmist. 

Second  Week— Third  Day 

It  is  a  long  road  that  leads  from  the  failure  of  our  first 
parents  to  such  a  cry  as  came  from  George  Matheson's 
lips :  "O  love  that  wilt  not  let  me  go."  The  most  touching 
part  of  the  story  of  the  garden  of  Eden  is  where,  when  the 
tragedy  is  done  and  the  persons  are  still  in  hiding,  a  grieving 

39 


[11-3]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Father  goes  out  seeking  his  rebellious  children.  "And  Jehovah 
God  called  unto  the  man."  It  was  love  that  called.  In  the 
last  analysis  the  glory  of  God's  stewardship  lies  in  the  fact 
that  it  is  voluntary  and  free.  So  must  it  be  with  his  children. 
Better  have  Adam  fail  in  his  trust  than  not  be  free  to  fail. 
But  love  persists.  So  God  sets  himself  to  the  task  of  gather- 
ing lip  the  wreckage  of  Eden  in  order  to  start  over  again  in 
working  out  his  eternal  purposes  of  making  the  kind  of  man- 
hood that  will  share  with  him  his  compassion  for  the  world. 
From  Adam  to  Abraham  is  the  story  of  a  long  struggle 
with  the  forces  of  sin  and  ignorance,  but  God  is  making 
progress.  In  this  scripture  it  is  evident  that  God  has  found 
in  Abraham  a  man  who  from  the  heart  feels  the  same  sense 
of  stewardship  that  God  felt.  Indeed,  it  is  God,  the  Supreme 
Steward,  who  is  crying  out  in  compassion  for   Sodom : 

Now  Jehovah  said  unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy  father's 
house,  unto  the  land  that  I  will  show  thee:  and  I  will 
make  of  thee  a  great  nation,  and  I  will  bless  thee,  and 
make  thy  name  great;  and  be  thou  a  blessing:  .  .  . 
And  the  men  turned  from  thence,  and  went  toward 
Sodom:  but  Abraham  stood  yet  before  Jehovah.  And 
Abraham  drew  near,  and  said,  Wilt  thou  consume  the 
righteous  with  the  wicked?  Peradventure  there  are 
fifty  righteous  within  the  city:  wilt  thou  consume  and 
not  spare  the  place  for  the  fifty  righteous  that  are  there- 
in? .  .  .  And  he  said,  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry, 
and  I  will  speak  yet  but  this  once:  peradventure  ten 
shall  be  found  there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy 
it  for  the  ten's  sake. — Gen.  12.  i,  2;  18.  22-24,  32. 

MEDITATION 

My  brethren,  are  we  in  this  succession?  Does  the  cry  of 
the  world's  need  pierce  the  heart,  and  ring  even  through 
the  fabric  of  our  dreams?  ...  I  am  amazed  how  easily 
I  become  callous.  ...  I  so  easily  become  enwrapped  in 
the  soft  wool  of  self-indulgency,  and  the  cries  from  far 
and  near  cannot  reach  my  easeful  soul.  "Why  do  you  wish 
to  return?"  I  asked  a  noble  missionary  who  had  been 
invalided  home:  "Why  do  you  wish  to  return?"  "Because 
I  can't  sleep  thinking  of  them !"  But,  my  brethren,  except 
when  I  spend  a  day  with  my  Lord,  the  trend  of  my  life  is 


(  GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-4] 

quite  another  way.     I  cannot  think  about  them  because  I  am 
so  inclined  to  sleep ! — /.  H.  Jowett. 

"O  Love  that  wilt  not  let  me  go, 

I  rest  my  weary  soul  in  thee; 
I  give  thee  back  the  life  I  owe, 
That  in  thine  ocean  depths  its  flow 

May  richer,  fuller  be. 

"O  Joy  that  seekest  me  through  pain, 
I  cannot  close  my  heart  to  thee ; 
I    trace    the    rainbow    through    the    rain, 
And   feel   the  promise   is   not   vain 
That  morn  shall  tearless  be." 

— George  Matheson. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God,  who  hast  commanded  us  to  be  perfect,  as  thou  our 
Father  in  heaven  art  perfect,  put  into  our  hearts,  we  pray 
thee,  a  continual  desire  to  obey  thy  holy  will.  Teach  us  day 
by  day  what  thou  wouldst  have  us  do,  and  give  us  grace  and 
power  to  fulfill  the  same.  May  we  never  from  love  of  ease 
decline  the  path  which  thou  pointest  out,  nor  for  fear  of 
shame  turn  away  from  it.  Amen. — Dean  Henry  Alford, 


Second  Week — Fourth  Day 

Henry  Ward  Beecher  tells  of  a  little  girl  who  interrupted 
a  prayer  at  her  mother's  knee  to  ask,  "Mamma,  what  is  God 
doing  all  day  long?"  The  child  had  begun  to  think  and  it 
occurred  to  her  that  a  real  God  must  have  a  larger  task 
than  even  keeping  children  and  good  folks  safe  during  the 
hours  of  the  dark.  Many  good  people  remain  children  in  their 
thinking  of  God  and  become  mere  dwarfs  of  the  Kingdom, 
because  it  has  never  greatly  dawned  upon  them  that  God  has 
a  world  redemption  program,  or  that  they  have  anything  to 
do  about  it. 

"Nothing  to  do  in  this  world  of  ours. 
Where  weeds  spring  up  with  the  fairest  flowers, 
Where  smiles  have  only  a  fitful  play, 

And  hearts  are  breaking  every  day. 
41 


[II-4]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Nothing  to  do !     Thou  Christian  soul, 
Wrapping  thee  'round  in  thy  selfish  stole, 
Off    with    the    garments    of    sloth    and    sin, 
Christ,  thy  Lord,  hath  a  kingdom  to  win." 

From  the  beginning  this  was  God's  work  to  create  in  men  a 
moral  responsibility  as  "my  brother's  keeper."  There  was  no 
other  way  to  make  a  moral  world.  Perhaps  no  one  in  the 
Old  Testament  expresses  more  passionately  this  burden  for 
the  salvation  of  the  race  than  does  Moses,  the  chosen  leader 
of  the  Israelitish  people  in  the  day  of  their  great  sin.  And 
again  it  is  God  in  Moses  who  is  speaking: 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that  Moses  said 
unto  the  people,  Ye  have  sinned  a  great  sin :  and  now  I 
will  go  up  unto  Jehovah;  peradventure  I  shall  make 
atonement  for  your  sin.  And  Moses  returned  unto 
Jehovah,  and  said,  Oh,  this  people  have  sinned  a  great 
sin,  and  have  made  them  gods  of  gold.  Yet  now,  if  thou 
wilt  forgive  their  sin — ;  and  if  not,  blot  me,  I  pray  thee, 
out  of  thy  book  which  thou  hast  written. — Exod.  32.  30, 
31,  32. 

In  later  years  Moses  perceives  even  more  clearly  that  his 
longing  for  the  regeneration  of  his  people  was  really  im- 
parted to  him  from  the  heart  of  God,  to  whom  he  com- 
mends them  in  his  last  hours : 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  all  these  things  are 
come  upon  thee,  the  blessing  and  the  curse,  which  I 
have  set  before  thee,  and  thou  shalt  call  them  to  mind 
among  all  the  nations,  whither  Jehovah  thy  God  hath 
driven  thee,  and  shalt  return  unto  Jehovah  thy  God,  and 
shalt  obey  his  voice  according  to  all  that  I  command  thee 
this  day,  thou  and  thy  children,  with  all  thy  heart,  and 
with  all  thy  soul;  that  then  Jehovah  thy  God  will  turn 
thy  captivity,  and  have  compassion  upon  thee. — Deut. 
30.   1-3- 

MEDITATION 

Do  something !  No  man  is  born  with  a  mortgage  on  his 
soul ;  but  every  man  is  born  a  debtor  to  Time.  Meet  this 
obligation  before  you  find  too  late  that  your  life  is  im- 
poverished and  you  cannot  redeem  it. — Martha  Bird  Stein- 
metz, 

42 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-5] 

"There's   a  wideness    in    God's   mercy, 
Like  the  wideness  of  the  sea; 
There's  a  kindness  in  his  justice, 
Which  is  more  than  liberty. 

If  our  love  were  but  more   simple, 
We  should  take  him   at  his   word; 

And  our  lives  would  be  all  sunshine 
In  the  sweetness   of   our   Lord," 

— Frederick   W.  Faher. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  Almighty  and  Everlasting 
God,  who  hast  safely  brought  us  to  the  beginning  of  this 
day,  defend  us  in  the  same  with  thy  mighty  power;  and  grant 
that  this  day  we  may  fall  into  no  sin,  neither  run  into  any 
kind  of  danger;  but  that  all  our  doings,  being  ordered  by  thy 
covenants,  may  be  righteous  in  thy  sight.  Through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. — Gelasian  Sacramentary,  494  a.d. 


Second  Week— Fifth  Day 

The  failure  of  the  Hebrew  nation  to  accept  its  God-given 
mission  is  the  most  conspicuous  refusal  of  divine  steward- 
ship in  all  history.  But  the  love  of  God  shines  still  more 
brightly  through  the  gloom.  Other  peoples  may  take  warning : 
Israel  forfeited  its  leadership  both  in  the  Church  of  God 
and  among  the  nations  through  its  failure.  But  God  will 
"not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have  set  justice  in  the 
earth."  So  even  the  darkness  of  the  great  rejection  is  re- 
lieved by  the  increasing  number  of  glorious  souls  who  give 
voice  to  the  stewardship  of  God,  and  as  prophet  evangelists 
reveal  to  an  ever-widening  constituency  the  pleading  heart  of 
the   heavenly   Father. 

In  the  scripture  that  follows  we  have  come  to  that  part  in 
the  history  of  the  Kingdom  when  political  degeneration  is 
rapidly,  increa-singly  evident.  King  after  king  has  risen,  re- 
belled against  God,  and  departed.  Nevertheless,  God  still 
pleads  with  his  people.  The  prophet  Moses  has  altogether 
associated  his  own  personality,  first  with  his  people,  in  exhort- 
ing them  back  to  God;  and,  second,  when  the  backsliding 
seems  beyond  healing,  with  Jehovah,  his  Lord  in  voicing 
Heaven's  cry,  "How  can   I  give  thee  up,    O   Ephraim?" 

43 


[II-5]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Come,  and  let  us  return  unto  Jehovah;  for  he  hath 
torn,  and  he  will  heal  us;  he  hath  smitten,  and  he  will 
bind  us  up.  .  .  .  And  let  us  know,  let  us  follow  on 
to  know  Jehovah:  his  going  forth  is  sure  as  the  morning; 
and  he  will  come  imto  us  as  the  rain,  as  the  latter  rain 
that  watereth  the  earth.  .  .  .  How  shall  I  give  thee 
up,  Ephraim?  how  shall  I  cast  thee  off,  Israel?  how  shall 
i  make  thee  as  Admah?  how  shall  I  set  thee  as  Zeboiim? 
my  heart  is  turned  within  me,  my  compassions  are 
kindled  together.  I  will  not  execute  the  fierceness  of 
mine  anger,  I  will  not  return  to  destroy  Ephraim:  for 
I  am  God,  and  not  man;  the  Holy  One  in  the  midst  of 
thee. — Hos.  6.  i,  3;  11.  8,  9. 

MEDITATION 

"O  Joy   supreme !     I   know   the   Voice 
Like  none  beside  on  earth  or  sea; 
Yea,  more,  O  soul  of  mine,  rejoice, 
By  all  that  he  requires  of  me, 
I  know  what  God   himself   must  be." 

— John  Greenleaf  Whittier, 

God  will  keep  no  nation  in  supreme  place  that  will  not  do 
supreme  duty. — William  McKinley. 

I  think  my  soul  was  never  so  drawn  out  in  intercession 
for  others  as  it  has  been  this  night;  I  hardly  ever  so  longed 
to  live  to  God,  and  to  be  altogether  devoted  to  him ;  I  wanted 
to  wear  out  my  life  for  him.  ...  I  wrestled  for  the  in- 
gathering of  souls,  for  multitudes  of  poor  souls,  personally, 
in  many  distant  places.  I  was  in  such  an  agony,  from  sun 
half-an-hour  high  till  near  dark,  that  I  was  \vet  all  over  with 
sweat;  but  O,  my  dear  Lord  did  sweat  blood  for  such  poor 
souls :    I    longed    for    more    compassion. — David    Brainerd. 

A  PRAYER 

Set  my  heart  on  fire  with  the  love  of  thee,  most  loznng 
Father.  .  .  .  For  to  him  that  loveth,  nothing  is  difficult, 
nothing  is  impossible.  .  .  .  O  may  love  fill  and  rule  my 
heart!  For  then  there  will  spring  up  and  he  cherished  be- 
tween thee  and  me  a  line  of  character,  and  union  of  will, 
so  that  I  may  choose  and  refuse  what  thou  dost.  May  thy 
will  be  done  in  me  and  by  me  forever.  Amen. — Paradise  for 
the   Christian   Soul, 

44 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-6] 

Second  Week— Sixth  Day 

"Were   the   whole   realm   of   nature  mine, 
That    were    a   present    far    too    small; 
Love  so  amazing,   so  divine, 

Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all." 

This  loving  gratitude  which  Isaac  Watts  expressed  as 
he  surveyed  the  "wondrous  cross"  is  exactly  that  which  God 
had  been  trying  to  arouse  in  human  hearts  from  the  begin- 
ning. In  the  previous  studies  of  this  week  we  have  seen 
God  pleading  through  his  various  servants.  Finally  he  said, 
'T  will  send  my  own  Son."  Calvary  is  only  another  phase  of 
the  love  of  God  that  first  placed  man  in  the  garden  of  Eden 
as  the  caretaker  of  a  wonderful  world,  that  bore  with  him 
through  long  years  of  rebellion,  that  called  to  him  through 
the  law  and  the  prophets,  and  in  the  fullness  of  time  made 
the  climax  of  all  appeals  in  the  coming  of  the  Child  of 
Bethlehem.  Accordingly,  God's  stewardship  is  best  realised 
in  the  incarnation  that  began  in  Bethlehem  and  ended  in  the 
supreme  tragedy  at  Calvary. 

If  we  could  only  see  beforehand  the  beauty  and  strength 
of  the  beings  that  our  heavenly  Father  means  us  to  finally 
become — if  we  could  just  catch  the  vision  of  this,  we  would 
better  understand  both  the  love  and  patience  of  God,  and 
how  all  the  agony  of  the  ages  will  be  more  than  repaid  in  the 
end  by  the  re-creation  and  final  redemption  of  man.  A 
humble  illustration  of  the  vaster  truth  is  to  be  found  in  the 
story  of  that  mother  who,  much  to  the  disgust  of  her  neigh- 
bors, bore  patiently  through  many  years  the  waywardness  of 
her  grown-up  son.  Repeatedly  refusing  the  invitations  of  her 
other  children  to  share  their  more  comfortable  homes,  at 
length  she  was  rewarded  in  seeing  the  drunkard  soundly 
converted.  Then  she  trembled  as  she  thought  of  those  days 
when  her  load  had  seemed  almost  unbearable  and  she  had 
been  tempted  to  go  away.  "Oh,  suppose  I  had  left  Charlie!" 
she  wrote,  only  to  add  immediately.  "But  then  I  never  could 
have  left  him,  for  I  love  him."  The  thing  that  forever  re- 
mains a  source  of  amazement  to  John  is  the  unwearied  love 
of  God  as  indicated  by  this  scripture. 

In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with   God,   and   the   Word  was   God.     The    same  was   in 

45 


[II-6]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

the  beginning  with  God.  All  things  were  made  through 
him;  and  without  him  was  not  anything  made  that  hath 
been  made.  In  him  was  life;  and  the  life  was  the  light 
of  men.  .  .  .  He  was  in  the  world,  and  the  world  was 
made  through  him,  and  the  world  knew  him  not.  He 
came  unto  his  own,  and  they  that  were  his  own  received 
him  not.  But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave 
he  the  right  to  become  children  of  God,  even  to  them 
that  believe  on  his  name:  who  were  born,  not  of  blood, 
nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but 
of  God.  And  the  Word  became  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten 
from  the  Father),  full  of  grace  and  truth.  .  .  .  For 
God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  eternal  life. — John  i.  i-4>  10-14;  3.  16. 

MEDITATION 

"Immortal  Love,  forever  full, 
Forever  flowing  free, 
Forever   shared,    forever   whole, 
A  never-ebbing   sea." 

"Our   outward   lips    confess   the   name 

All    other    names    above ; 
Love  only  knoweth  whence  it  came 
And  comprehendeth   love." 

— John  G.  Whittier. 

Self-sacrifice  is  an  everyday  affair.  By  it  we  live.  With- 
out it  society  could  not  go  on  for  an  hour.  ...  I  mean 
by  self-sacrifice  any  diminution  of  my  possessions,  pleasures 
or  powers,  in  order  to  increase  those  of  others.  .  .  .  The 
greatest  conceivable  sacrifice  is  when  I  give  myself. — Palmer. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Love  divine,  who,  in  infinite  mercy,  hast  sought  after  all 
men,  not  unlling  that  any  should  perish,  hear  the  prayer  of 
thy  servant.  From  the  beginning  thou  hast  given  us  all  things: 
we  give  thee  back  thine  own.  O  thou,  who  didst  dedicate,  in 
loving  stewardship,  thy  boundless  resources,  even  unto  Cal- 
vary, for  our  redemption,  receive,  we  humbly  beseech  thee, 
this  our  consecration  of  time  and  talent,  life  and  possessions, 

46 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-7] 

to  the  glory  of  thy  holy  kingdom,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord.     Amen. 


Second  Week — Seventh  Day 

As  the  incarnation  was  God's  supreme  appeal,  so  Pente- 
cost was  the  final  act  in  the  fulfillment  of  Divine  steward- 
ship. The  age-long  task  had  been  to  make  man  in  God's 
own  image.  The  law  and  the  prophets  could  create  a  fear 
and  abhorrence  of  sin,  Bethlehem  and  Calvary  could  inspire 
a  love  for  the  character  of  a  God  who  forgives  and  seeks 
to  the  uttermost;  but  how  can  a  man  lift  himself  by  his  boot 
straps  ?  and  how  can  a  man  rise  victorious  over  his  sins,  or 
be  a  good  steward  like  unto  his  Father?  It  is  impossible  with- 
out some  superhuman  help.  Man  can  love  the  higher  law.  He 
can  cry  as  desperately  as  Carlyle,  'T  will  live  a  white  life,  if 
I  go  to  hell  for  it !"  But  all  human  efforts  must  end  in  the 
wail  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  ''O  wretched  man  that  I  am,"  were  it 
not  that  God  made  one  final  appropriation  of  his  divine  re- 
sources and  at  Pentecost  inaugurated  the  dispensation  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Henceforth  the  victorious  life  is  the  privi- 
lege of  every  child  of  God,  even  as  Jesus  promised,  "Ye  shall 
receive  power  when  the  Holy  Spirit  is  come  upon  you." 

"Come,   Holy  Ghost,   in   love, 
Shed   on   us   from   above 
Thine  own  bright  ray ! 
Divinely  good  thou  art; 
Thy   sacred   gifts   impart 
To  gladden  each  sad  heart : 
O  come  to-day!" 

And,  being  assembled  together  with  them,  he  charged 
them  not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  to  wait  for  the 
promise  of  the  Father,  which,  said  he,  ye  heard  from 
me :  for  John  indeed  baptized  with  water ;  but  ye  shall  be 
baptized  in  the  Holy  Spirit  not  many  days  hence.  They, 
therefore,  when  they  were  come  together,  asked  him, 
saying,  Lord,  dost  thou  at  this  time  restore  the  king- 
dom to  Israel?  And  he  said  unto  them.  It  is  not  for 
you  to  know  times  or  seasons,  which  the  Father  hath 
set  within  his  own  authority.  But  ye  shall  receive  power, 
when  the  Holy  Spirit  is  come  upon  you:  and  ye  shall  be 
my  witnesses  both  in  Jerusalem,   and  in  all  Judaea  and 

47 


[II-7]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth. — Acts 
I.  4-8. 

MEDITATION 

It  was  through  the  amazing  tragedy  of  Calvary  and  the 
marvelous  transitions  of  Pentecost  that  the  ageless  mystery 
of  the  Trinity  became  radiant  with  meaning.  Then  they 
that  sat  in  darkness  saw  a  great  light  by  which  they  read 
that  neither  with  God  in  the  heavens,  nor  among  men  on 
the  earth,  is  there  an  undistributive  reserve  of  life,  or  love, 
or  power,  or  wisdom,  or  any  resources,  material  or  spiritual, 
that  is  to  be  sacred  to  the  sole  use  or  enjoyment  of  any 
holder  or  claimant.  That  is  to  say,  God  made  love  the  key- 
note of  creation,  and  from  the  beginning  ordained  and  ex- 
emplified the  principle  of  stewardship  as  manifesting  supreme 
expression. — Bishop  Earl   Cranston. 

*Tf  I  have  been  less  true,  less  strong, 

Than  I  have  power  to  be, 
And   followed,   weakly,   after  wrong 

When  right  appealed  to  me, 
Dear  God,  forgive. 

And  give  to  me  that   insight   clear,   defined 
Which  marks  the  progress  of  the  soul; 
For  they  who  seek  shall  find." 

— Leiia  Blinn  Lewis. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Blessed  Holy  Spirit,  who  hast  promised  to  make  inter- 
cession for  us,  with  groanings  that  cannot  he  uttered,  hear 
us,  we  beseech  thee,  at  the  beginning  of  this,  another  day. 
So  illumine  our  minds  by  thy  holy  presence,  and  so  purify 
and  strengthen  our  hearts  by  thy  mighty  power,  that  all 
day  long,  in  word  and  thought  and  deed,  we  may  be  faithful 
stewards  of  the  Divine  Grace  intrusted  to  the  children  of 
God^  from  the  foundation  of  the  world;  to  the  glory  of  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen.  / 


OUTLINE— SECOND  WEEK.     GOD'S  STEWARD- 
SHIP 

1.  Introductory:  God   Is   Ruled  by   Stewardship. 

2.  First  Day:  Creation  an  Act   of   Stewardship. 

3.  Second  Day :  Stewardship  in  the  Garden, 

4.  Third  Day :  Salvaging  Mankind  Is  Stewardship, 

5.  Fourth  Day :  Social    Responsibility   Is    Stewardship. 

6.  Fifth  Day:  Refusal   of   Stewardship, 

7.  Sixth  Day:  Supreme  Example  of  Stewardship. 

8.  Seventh  Day:  Pentecost,    Fulfillment   of    Stewardship. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  is  the  source  of  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life?     How 

did  Jesus  know  the  divine  will? 

b.  Why  does  God  obey  his  own  laws? 

c.  What  should  be  the  difference  between  our  purposes  and 

God's? 

d.  What  is  the  relation  of  law  to  liberty?   Are  these  laws  of 

expansion  as  well  as  restriction?  Which  is  steward- 
ship, expanding  or  narrowing? 

e.  Has  God  done  his  best  for  us?    Can  he,  before  we  pray? 
/.  Are    Christians    really    selfish    or    only    blind,    or    both? 

W^ho  is  a  hypocrite?     (Answer  for  yourself,) 
g.  In  what  sense  must  a  man*  "live  unto  his  fellow  men"? 
h.  What   is   the   fundamental  principle   of    Christian   stew- 
ardship? 

2.  a.  Where  do  we  find  the  first  hint  of  God's  personal  stew- 

ardship? 

b.  Did  Adam  and  Eve  own  the  garden  of  Eden?     Did  the 

Israelites  own  the  land  of  Canaan?  Does  a  manu- 
facturer own  his  factory?  Does  a  farmer  own  the 
soil  of  his  farm? 

c.  For  whom  does  God  work?    To  whom  is  he  responsible? 

How  are  we  like  him? 

49 


[II-o]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

3.  a.  What   was    man's    commission    in    the    world    from    the 

beginning? 
h.  Do  *'all  things  work  together   for  good"  to  those  who 
love  God? 

c.  What  did  Jesus  mean  by  'ye   shall  be  perfect  as  your 

heavenly  Father  is  perfect"  ? 

d.  Are  comfortable  homes   filled   with  luxuries  and   beau- 

tiful furnishings  sinful? 

e.  Is  it  possible  to  be  good,  and  to  enjoy  the  best  things 

in  life,  both  material  and  spiritual? 

4.  a.  Is  there  any  virtue  in  being  good  because  we  are  afraid 

to  be  bad,   or   because  of   the  law,   or  because   some- 
body else  says  what  is  good? 
h.  Why  did  God  set  himself  to  salvage  mankind? 

c.  Is  stewardship  a  modern  doctrine,  or  God's  eternal  plan 

for  himself  and  for  man? 

d.  Would  you  call  Abraham  a  steward  of  God? 

e.  Would  you  say  that  the  man   who  cannot  be  a   friend 

cannot  be  a  faithful  steward.     Why? 

5.  a.  What  does  God  do  all  day? 

h.  Why    should    we    ask    ourselves,    "Am    I    my    brother's 
keeper?"? 

c.  What  made  it  possible  for  Moses  to  offer  himself  for 

the   Israelites? 

d.  How  may  we  forget  God? 

6.  a.  Why  did   God  take  the  commission  to  save  the   world 

away  from  the  Israelites? 
h.  Why  should  God  not  be  discouraged? 

c.  Why  did  God  not  destroy  the  Israelites? 

d.  How  can  we  know  what  God  is? 

e.  Is  it  true  yesterday  and  to-day  that  "God  will  keep  no 

nation    in    supreme    place    that    will    not    do    supreme 
duty"  ? 

7.  What  is  the  chief  virtue   required  of   stewards  ? 

8.  a.  How  may  we  know  the  presence  of  God  in  our  own  life? 
b.  What  is  the  nature  of  the  power  we  receive  from  per- 
sonal contact  with  God? 

EXERCISES 

I.  Who  owns?     What  does  it  mean  to  own?     Can  one  who 

50 


GOD'S  STEWARDSHIP  [II-o] 

lives  alone  own  anything?  Can  he  be  pious?  What 
difference  does  it  make  to  you  that  God  is  the  Sovereign 
Owner  of  all  things? 

2.  Is  covetousness  the  same  as  miserliness,  or  selfish  spending, 

or  what  is  it? 

3.  In    what    sense    is   God    eternally   the    same?      As    Owner, 

Father,  Lover,  Creator,  Sustainer? 

4.  Can  we  contribute  anything  to  the  happiness  of  God?     Are 

we  as  necessary  to  him  as  he  is  to  us?  Could  God  find 
his  supreme  happiness  in  the  world  before  man  came? 
Can  anyone  find  his  higtiest  happiness  in  doing  as  he 
pleases? 

5.  How   did   man   differ   from   the   other  animals?     What   is 

a  person?  Who  is  the  Supreme  Person?  Does  per- 
sonality always  include  responsibility,  privilege,  domin- 
ion? 

6.  What  is  your  idea  of  evolution?     How  does  God  work? 

7.  What  is  the  limit  of  desire  to  possess  in  man?     How  may 

it   be   controlled   and   directed? 

8.  Is  the  Christian  steward  conscious  of  self-sacrifice?     What 

becomes   of   self-sacrifice   in    fellowship    with   God? 

9.  List  the  evidences,  found  in  your  own  experience,  that  the 

gospel  of  stewardship  is  being  accepted  by  the  world. 

10.  Write  an  argument  to  prove  that  our   Father  wants   his 

children  to  make  the  most  of  themselves. 

11.  Write  a  paragraph  on  how  to  be  a  friend   and  a   Chris- 

tian steward  showing  that  they  both  depend  upon  the 
ability  to  become  saturated  with  the  personality  of  an- 
other. 

SUGGESTIONS 

1.  Think  carefully  over  your  relations  to  God  and  write  down 

the  ways  in  which  you  are  conscious  of  the  presence 
of  God,  the  ways  in  which  you  find  you  are  selfish. 

2.  What  plans  are  you  making  for  personal   enlargement   in 

partnership   with   God? 


51 


CHAPTER  III 


Jesus  Teaching  Stewardship 

INTRODUCTORY 

''Don't  you  think  the  word  'stewardship'  is  vague?  Many 
people  do  not  know  what  you  mean  by  it.  Why  not  use 
'consecration'  instead?"  It  was  a  young  minister  who  asked 
the  question  at  a  recent  conference  in  the  Middle  West ; 
and  in  spite  of  the  outburst  of  "No!  No!"  that  followed, 
there  will  be  many  who,  seeing  these  words,  will  recall  that 
they  themselves  have  asked  a  similar  question.  Indeed,  it 
ought  to  be  frankly  admitted  that  "stewardship"  is  vague, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  so  are  many  other  words  and  phrases 
that  Jesus  used.  That  is  to  say,  they  are  vague  until  some 
generation  comes  along  really  to  practice  the  thing  that  Jesus 
taught,  and  then  the  word  is  alive — born  again  with  new 
meaning.  So  it  must  be  with  the  word  "steward,"  which 
Jesus  recoined  and  filled  with  wonder-working  content.  We 
must  discover  to  the  church  of  this  generation  both  the  mean- 
ing and  the  word;    they   conquer  together. 

One  day  Phillips  Brooks  visited  that  wonderful  Wind, 
deaf,  and  dumb  girl,  Helen  Keller,  and  through  her  remark- 
able teacher  he  told  her  that  God  was  very  near,  that  he  was 
her  "unseen  Father  who  loved  her  and  would  not  let  go  her 
hand  either  in  life  or  in  death."  And  the  child  answered, 
"I  have  often  felt  him.  He  comes  like  warmth,  hut  I  did 
not  know  before  what  to  call  him."  In  commenting,  Newell 
Dwight  Hillis  says :  "From  that  day  the  girl  went  from  one 
realm  of  knowledge  to  another.  She  passed  from  kingdom 
to  kingdom.  Her  tomb  began  to  enlarge.  Great  windows 
were  opened.  At  last  she  walked  forth,  free!"  So  it  will 
be  with  the  church's  vision  of  the  stewardship  of  life.  For 
a  long  time  we  have  felt  Jesus'  teaching  as  a  passing  warmth, 

52 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [Ill-i] 

or  a  flash  of  light,  or  a  glorious  dream,  but  without  enough 
of  clearness  to  give  it  name.  But  a  new  day  is  dawning. 
Even  now  new  light  is  breaking  upon  the  word  of  God.  Men 
are  beginning  to  take  seriously  Jesus'  explanation  of  life. 
There  are  numerous  signs :  "We  are  coming  to  see  that 
it  is  a  disgrace  for  a  man  to  die  rich,"  says  one;  while  a 
young  woman  voices  the  same  spirit  after  her  escape  from 
a  building  where  scores  burned  to  death,  crying  for  days  :  "I 
did  not  even  try  to  save  anybody  else.  I  thought  only  of 
myself !  I  thought  only  of  myself !"  Here  are  at  least  the 
beginnings  of  good  stewardship,  but  we  must  call  it  by  name 
until  the  world  recognizes  this  golden  philosophy  of  Jesus, 
and  perceives  that  there  is  no  other  way  under  the  heavens 
whereby  fetters  may  be  broken  and  the  world  saved.  "Stew- 
ardship" is  God's  word  for  our  generation.  We  must  voice 
it  and  practice  it  in  our  churches  and  in  our  industries  and 
in  all  our  personal  relations — we  must,  indeed,  make  it  the 
burning  slogan  of  our  age  until  men  actually  visualize  what 
Jesus  taught  concerning  the  stewardship  of  life  and  property 
and  all. 

Just  how  the  vagueness  about  stewardship  will  be  dissipated 
may  be  suggested  by  a  consideration  of  Jesus'  teaching  con- 
cerning God's  sovereign  ownership.  At  least  sixteen  of  his 
parables  reveal  his  emphasis  upon  this  Old-Testament 
doctrine,  and  yet  here  is  one  of  the  most  stubbornly  resisted 
truths  of  the  Scriptures.  Indeed,  how  few,  even  among 
"tithers,"  really  "see  through  the  eyes  of  God"  and  regard 
seriously  God's  personal  ownership  of  all  property,  and  yet 
the  tithe  was  unquestionably  instituted  as  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  God's  personal  ownership  of  land  and  wealth  and 
life.  But  let  a  person  once  see  this  truth  and  realize  its  prac- 
tical implications,  and  God  not  only  becomes  a  Presence  per- 
sonal and  real,  but  the  entire  conception  of  one's  relation  to 
all  industry  and  the  kingdom  of  God  is  revolutionized.  As  an 
English  writer  puts  it:  "It  makes  a  vast  difference  in  the 
long  run  whether  a  man  has  at  the  back  of  his  mind,  in  all 
his  judgments,  the  principle,  'One  has  a  right  to  do  as  one 
likes  with  one's  own,'  in  the  crude  sense  of  what  is  his  and 
may  so  remain,  without  breach  of  the  law  of  the  land;  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  idea  of  property  as  a  social  trust  or 
stewardship.  Change  of  attitude  here  is  the  most  'practicaK 
thing  that  can  happen  to  men."     Thus  it  seems  evident  that 

53 


[Ill-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"stewardship"  will  cease  to  be  vague  just  as  soon  as  we 
accept  and  put  into  practice  the  plain  teaching  of  our  Lord. 

Moreover,  the  word  "steward"  is  vital,  not  only  because 
Jesus  and  his  disciples  recoined  it,  but  because  it  is  difficult 
to  find  any  other  word  that  will  exactly  express  the  same 
meaning.  When  Jesus  began  to  teach  his  philosophy  of  life 
he  was  compelled  to  seek  for  words  with  which  to  portray  the 
true  relationship  of  a  man  to  God  and  his  kingdom.  It  is 
an  interesting  study  to  list  the  words  that  he  used  to  this  end : 
"servant,"  "husbandman,"  "child,"  "sons,"  "friends,"  "stew- 
ards," are  some  of  them.  However,  it  is  evident  that  none 
of  them  can  be  used  to  the  total  exclusion  of  the  others. 
Each  one  is  not  only  freighted  with  a  broad  aspect  of  the 
precious  message  that  Jesus  taught  but  each  has  also  the 
limitation  of  bemg  unable  to  suggest  the  whole  truth.  Ac- 
cordingly, no  word  is  altogether  satisfactory,  but  among  these 
words  the  one  that  Jesus  emphasises  as  most  broadly  cover- 
ing the  whole  scope  of  human  relationship  to  God  is  "stew- 
ard." 

Such  words  as  "trustee,"  or  "agent,"  or  "representative," 
are  cold,  and  are  at  best  merely  suggestive  of  the  meaning 
that  Jesus  puts  into  the  Oriental  word  "steward,"  for  in  the 
Orient  the  steward  was  not  only  a  trustee  and  a  servant, 
but  still  more,  he  was  the  friend.  So  close  was  this  friend- 
ship that  it  is  written  of  Abraham's  steward,  "All  the  goods 
of  his  master  are  in  his  hands."  Likewise  Joseph  was  stew- 
ard in  the  house  of  Potiphar,  and  the  confidence  and  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  is  evidenced  by  the  statement  that  the 
master  "left  all  that  he  had  in  Joseph's  hand."  Thus  when 
Jesus  is  searching  for  some  word  that  will  express  both  the 
responsibility  and  friendly  relationship  which  God  desires  shall 
exist  between  men  and  their  heavenly  Father,  he  goes  over 
into  the  Old  Testament  and  brings  forth  the  picture  of  an 
Oriental  home  where  the  master  has  placed  the  moral  and 
even  physical  and  spiritual  welfare  of  all  concerned  in  the 
hands  of  his  trusted  friend,  the  steward. 

Accordingly,  Jesus  teaches  that  all  men  are  stewards,  what- 
ever other  relation  may  exist  between  them  and  God.  We 
are  stewards  by  God's  appointment.  The  only  question  is, 
what  kind?  The  fact  that  the  steward  is  the  friend  of  his 
Master  does  not  release  him  from  accounting  for  his  Friend's 
goods,  nor  does  sonship  cancel  the  obligation  of  faithfulness 

54 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP       [III-i] 

in  dealing  with  the  Father's  resources.  The  child  is  just  as 
much  a  thief  if  he  steals  from  his  father  as  from  anyone 
else.  On  the  other  hand,  consider  the  man  who  rebels  against 
the  king  in  his  kingdom.  His  rebellion  will  not  for  a  minute 
change  his  status  quo.  Though  he  hide  "his  Lord's  money" 
in  the  ground  or  in  selfish  expenditure  or  lavish  extravagance 
of  any  kind,  some  day  the  Lord  of  that  servant  cometh,  and 
he  will  remind  him  of  that  time  when  the  Master  gave  to 
him  all  the  resources  he  ever  had,  and  said  unto  him,  ''Occupy 
till  I  come." 

So  Jesus  taught  the  great  philosophy  of  life  and  clustered 
his  teachings  around  the  word  "steward."  It  is  doubtful, 
therefore,  if  a  better  word  can  be  found  to  express  the  gen- 
eral relation  of  a  man  to  the  supreme  Person  and  to  the 
Kingdom.  Jesus  not  only  uses  it,  but  evidently  has  it  in  the 
background  of  his  thinking  when  he  does  not  use  it.  Many 
of  his  parables,  such  as  the  parables  of  the  vineyard,  the 
talents,  the  good  Samaritan,  and  the  prodigal  son,  bear  witness 
that  while  the  word  "steward"  or  "stewardship"  is  not  always 
specifically  used,  yet  Jesus'  philosophy  is  perfectly  clear.  This 
is  developed  still  further  in  the   "Daily   Readings." 


DAILY  READINGS 

Third  Week— First  Day 

It  is  evident  that  the  difference  between  God's  steward- 
ship and  our  own  lies  in  the  fact  that  God  voluntarily  set 
all  his  own  resources  to  the  grand  task  of  the  regeneration 
and  development  of  man,  while  we  are  only  asked  to  use,  for 
the  same  purpose,  not  what  is  our  own  but  what  has  been 
freely  given  us,  in  trust,  by  our  loving  Father.  While  God 
is  only  responsible  to  himself,  we,  his  creatures,  are  eternally 
responsible  to  him  as  the  Creator.  Thus  while  man  is  asked 
to  be  a  good  steward  by  voluntarily  following  the  example 
of  the  Great  Steward,  yet  he  cannot,  in  any  case,  escape  stew- 
ardship, for  the  very  good  reason  that  he  did  not  make  him- 
self and  cannot  equip  himself. 

Right  here  is  found  the  reason  for  the  shortsightedness  of 
the   so-called  "self-made  man"   who   cannot  see   beyond   the 

55 


[III-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

doctrine  of  human  ownership.  We  laugh  at  little  Jack 
Horner,  who  "put  in  his  thumb  and  drew  out  a  plum"  from 
the  pie  he  did  not  make,  and  cried,  "What  a  big  boy  am  I !" 
But,  after  all,  there  is  not  a  very  great  distance  between  the 
childishness  of  that  small  boy  and  that  of  the  grown-up  child 
who  gloats  over  what  he  "owns"  and  what  he  has  done  "all 
myself" — all  the  while  deaf  to  the  Voice  which  says,  "What 
hast  thou  that  thou  didst  not  receive?" 

An  illustration  of  how  this  blindness  to  the  sovereign 
ownership  of  God  kills  the  sense  of  stewardship  can  be  found 
almost  any  day  in  the  magazines  or  newspapers:  "Why,  my 
■old  dad  built  this  business  from  the  ground  up;  built  it  with 
his  keen  Yankee  brain,  and  in  doing  that  he  gave  this  town 
the  biggest  shove  it  ever  had.  He  always  paid  good  wages, 
and  he  looked  out  for  his  men,  but  he  knew  who  owned  .the 
shop,  you  bet,  and  who  ran  it !  He  hadn't  any  partner  until 
he  took  me  in,  and  when  Tom  undertakes  to  tell  me  that  I 
have  got  any  partners  outside  of  himself,  I  figure  it  is  up  to 
me  to  prove  he  is  mistaken — even  if  I  have  to  show  him  that 
I  haven't  any  partner  at  all.  I  have  got  a  little  business 
pride !"  The  contrast  between  this  quotation  from  a  magazine 
story  and  Jesus'  parable  of  the  good  steward  is  perfectly 
evident.  Our  Lord  teaches  that  the  recognition  of  God  as 
the  chief  Partner  is  fundamental  to  any  successful  life. 

And  the  Lord  said,  Who  then  is  the  faithful  and  wise 
steward,  whom  his  lord  shall  set  over  his  household,  to 
give  them  their  portion  of  food  in  due  season?  Blessed 
is  that  servant,  whom  his  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find 
so  doing.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  will  set 
him  over  all  that  he  hath.  But  if  that  servant  shall  say 
in  his  heart.  My  lord  delayeth  his  coming;  and  shall  begin 
to  beat  the  menservants  and  the  maidservants,  and  to  eat 
and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken;  the  lord  of  that  servant 
shall  come  in  a  day  when  he  expecteth  not,  and  in  an  hour 
when  he  knoweth  not,  and  shall  cut  him  asunder,  and  ap- 
point his  portion  with  the  unfaithful.  .  .  .  And  to 
whomsoever  much  is  given,  of  him  shall  much  be  required : 
and  to  whom  they  commit  much,  of  him  will  they  ask  the 
more. — Luke  12.  42-46;  48. 

MEDITATION 

We  must  not  approach  the  principle  of  tithing  from  any 
56 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP       [III-2] 

narrow  or  legalized  standpoint,  but  surely  we  should  dedicate 
to  the  service  of  God  at  least  one  tenth  of  our  income  as  an 
acknowledgment  of  God's  ownership  of  all. — J.  J.  Stowe. 

Shall  I  hold  on  with  both  hands  to  every  paltry  possession? 
All  I  have  teaches  me  to  trust  the  Creator  for  all  I  have  not 
seen. — Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

"Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,   O  my  soul, 
As  the  swift  seasons  roll ! 
Leave  thy  low-vaulted  past ! 
Let  each  new  temple,  nobler  than  the  last. 
Shut  thee  from  heaven  with  a  dome  more  vast, 
Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  outgrown  shell  by  life's  unresting  sea." 

— Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 

A  PRAYER 

0,  gracious  and  patient  Jesus,  take,  we  pray  thee,  the  blind- 
ness from  our  eyes  that  we  may  see  and  prise  the  honor  thou 
hast  conferred  in  making  us  stewards  of  God,  that  we  may 
truly  realise  that,  "Every  man  is  wholly  God's  own  portion 
by  the  title  of  creation"  so  all  our  labors  and  cares,  all  our 
powers  and  faculties,  must  be  wholly  employed  in  the  service 
of  God  and  even  all  the  days  of  our  life,  that  this  life  being 
ended  we  may  live  with  him  forever. — Jeremy  Taylor. 


Third  Week— Second  Day 

Jesus  also  taught  that  the  obligation  of  stewardship  rested 
not  only  on  the  fact  of  God's  sovereign  ownership,  but  upon 
the  heritage  left  by  other  stewards  who  had  labored  as  fel- 
low workers  with  God  in  his  task  of  world  redemption. 
Indeed,  this  latter  truth  is  the  basis  of  patriotism  and  is 
echoed  in  every  patriotic  appeal.  This  was  the  thought  in  the 
background  of  Lincoln's  address  at  Gettysburg:  "In  a  larger 
sense  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot 
hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men  living  and  dead  who 
struggled  here  have  consecrated  it  far  above  our  power  to 
add  or  detract.  .  .  .  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather,  to  be 
dedicated  here  to  the  unfinished  work."  In  similar  vein  recall 
John  McCrae's  oft  quoted  words : 

57 


[III-2]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"To  you  from  failing  hands  we  throw 
The  torch;  be  yours  to  hold  it  high; 
If  ye  break  faith  with  us  who  die, 
We  shall  not  sleep,  though  poppies  grow 
In  Flanders  fields." 

In  such  noble  appeals  as  these  from  the  old  to  the  new 
generation  we  have  a  mighty  challenge  to  stewardship.  From 
the  beginning  God  has  preserved  a  noble  succession  of  Good 
Stewards  of  God.  While  Jesus'  parable  of  the  vineyard  has 
its  individual  application,  primarily  it  is  a  patriotic  appeal  to 
national  responsibility  for  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  Owner 
had  set  up  a  wonderful  vineyard  and  intrusted  it  to  the  Jewish 
people.  He  had  built  walls  about  it  for  protection,  and  made 
every  provision  for  a  fruit-bearing  nation.  He  had  sent  his 
prophets  to  exhort  and  warn  and  instruct;  at  the  last  he 
sent  his  own  Son  to  remind  them  of  their  mission. 

Hear  another  parable:  There  was  a  man  that  was  a 
householder,  who  planted  a  vineyard,  and  set  a  hedge 
about  it,  and  digged  a  winepress  in  it,  and  built  a  tower, 
and  let  it  out  to  husbandmen,  and  went  into  another  coun- 
try. And  when  the  season  o£  the  fruits  drew  near,  he 
sent  his  servants  to  the  husbandmen,  to  receive  his  fruits. 
And  the  husbandmen  took  his  servants,  and  beat  one,  and 
killed  another,  and  stoned  another.  Again,  he  sent  other 
servants  more  than  the  first;  and  they  did  unto  them  in 
like  manner.  But  afterward  he  sent  unto  them  his  son, 
saying,  They  will  reverence  my  son.  But  the  husband- 
men, when  they  saw  the  son,  said  among  themselves.  This 
is  the  heir;  come,  let  us  kill  him,  and  take  his  inheritance. 
And  they  took  him,  and  cast  him  forth  out  of  the  vine- 
yard, and  killed  him.  When  therefore  the  lord  of  the 
vineyard  shall  come,  what  will  he  do  unto  those  husband- 
men? They  say  xmto  him.  He  will  miserably  destroy 
those  miserable  men,  and  will  let  out  the  vineyard  unto 
other  husbandmen,  who  shall  render  him  the  fruits  in 
their  seasons. — Matt.  21.  33-41. 

MEDITATION 

Since  the  dominion  of  man  was  first  asserted  over  the 
ocean,  three  thrones  of  mark  above  all  others  have  been  set 
upon  its  sands:  the  thrones  of  Tyre,  of  Venice,  and  of  Eng- 
land.    Of  the  first  only  the  memory  remains;  of  the  second, 

S8 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [III-3] 

the  ruins;  the  third,  which  inherits  their  greatness,  if  she  for- 
get their  example  may  be  led  through  a  prouder  eminence  to 
a  less  pitiless  destruction. — John  Riiskin. 

"For  the  youth  they  gave  and  the  blood  they  gave, 

For  the  strength  that  was  our  stay. 
For  every  marked  or  nameless  grave 

On   the   shell-torn   Flanders   way — 
We  who  are  whole  of  body  and  soul. 

We  have  a  debt  to  pay! 

"For  the  youth  they  gave  and  the  blood  they  gave 
We  must  render  back  the   due; 
For  every   marked   or   nameless  grave 

We  must  pay  with  a   service  true; 
Till  the  scales  stand  straight  with  even  weight, 
And  the  world  is  a  world  made  new," 

— Theodosia  Garrison. 

A  PRAYER 

O,  Shepherd  of  Israel,  thou  that  leadest  thy  people  like  a 
Hock,  lead  us  this  day!  We  thank  thee  for  the  night;  hut 
standing  on  the  threshold  of  the  day,  we  shrink  hack  hut  for 
thee.  The  tasks  are  so  great,  and  we  are  so  small.  The 
hurdens  are  so  heavy,  and  we  are  so  weak.  Surely  the  re- 
sponsibilities are  greater  than  we  can  hear  alone.  Let  thy 
Heavenly  Spirit  sustain  us  with  thy  power,  making  us  to  he 
not  unworthy  sons  of  thy  servants,  our  fathers,  so  that, 
like  them,  having  borne  the  burdens  in  the  heat  of  the  day, 
we  may  at  last  he  led  into  thy  fold  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


Third  Week—Third  Day 

While  Jesus  teaches  that  God's  ownership,  together  with 
the  heritage  left  us  from  the  past,  furnish  an  all-sufficient 
basis  for  man's  stewardship,  yet  he  clearly  points  out  the 
need  of  the  world  as  the  compelling  and  immediate  challenge 
to  stewardship.  "Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?"  can  never  be 
a  fit  question  on  the  lips  of  a  Christian.  John  has  learned 
the  lesson  from  his  Master  when  he  says,  "Whoso  hath  the 
world's  goods,  and  beholdeth  his  brother  in  need,  and  shutteth 
up  his  compassion  from  him,  how  doth  the  love  of  God  abide 

59 


[III-3]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

in  him?"  (i  John  3.  17.)  Here  is  a  terrifying  deduction  that 
the  Church  has  only  partially  considered. 

A  few  years  ago  in  the  hour  of  the  great  world  need,  Her- 
bert Hoover  said  of  the  people  in  the  United  States,  "The 
nation  spends  at  least  $1,000,000  a  day,  or  $365,000,000  a  year, 
in  superfluous  eating  at  hotels  and  restaurants."  Condemna- 
tion in  the  statement  lay  not  so  much  in  the  waste  of  money, 
but  in  the  waste  at  a  time  when  vast  multitudes  were  starznng 
to  death  in  the  near  and  farther  East.  While  public  opinion 
has  been  Christianized  sufficiently  in  America  to  be  ashamed 
when  some  mother  with  her  brood  are  found  starved  or 
frozen  in  one  of  our  cities,  yet  the  challenge  of  human  need 
has  not  yet  compelled  the  passion  for  stewardship,  except  in 
isolated  cases.  True,  a  spasm  of  protest  spreads  over  a  com- 
munity when  suffering  and  need  emerge  with  conspicuousness, 
but  the  sense  of  responsibility  is  very  shallow  and  hmited 
by  geographical  or  economic  barriers.  The  heart  of  man 
admits  the  claim  of  any  "real  need,"  but  still  asks,  "Who  is 
my  neighbor?"  The  stewardship  passion  that  Jesus  possessed 
and  would  impart  will  be  able  to  cross  oceans,  penetrate  indus- 
try, and  recognize  spiritual  as  well  as  material  needs.  Such  a 
letter  as  the  following  one,  which  comes  burning  from  the 
foreign  missionary  field,  illustrates  that  Jesus'  story  of  the 
good  Samaritan  still  needs  to  be  interpreted  to  a  church  which 
seems  to  have  more  wealth  than  power : 

"Dr.   O :     It   seems   to   me   that  the   dear   church   at 

home  has  not  yet  seen  these  things.  If  they  had,  they  would 
not  leave  me  alone  in  this  district  in  this  day.  There  ought 
to  be  at  least  three  missionaries ;  now  there  is  only  one.  There 
is  no  one  coming  on,  no  one  learning  the  language,  no  one 
getting  India  into  his  life  with  all  that  it  means  to  a  mis- 
sionary. Please  understand,  I  am  not  complaining  to  you. 
Bless  your  heart !  You  are  doing  all  that  a  man  can  do,  and 
we  appreciate  that,  but  I  only  wish  that  the  church  could  see 
and  realize  this  unparalleled  opportunity. 

"Somehow  to-day  I  am  broken-hearted.  We  seem  so  far 
away  from  America,  and  I  am  almost  asking  myself,  'Do  the 
people  at  home  care?'" 

But  he,  desiring  to  justify  himself,  said  unto  Jesus, 
And  who  is  my  neighbor?     Jesus  made  answer  and  said, 

60 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [III-4] 

A  certain  man  was  going  down  from  Jerusalem  to 
Jericho;  and  he  fell  among  robbers,  who  both  stripped 
him  and  beat  him,  and  departed,  leaving  him  half  dead. 
And  by  chance  a  certain  priest  was  going  down  that  way: 
and  when  he  saw  him,  he  passed  by  on  the  other  side. 
And  in  like  manner  a  Levite  also,  when  he  came  to  the 
place,  and  saw  him,  passed  by  on  the  other  side.  But 
a  certain  Samaritan,  as  he  journeyed,  came  where  he  was: 
and  when  he  saw  him,  he  was  moved  with  compassion, 
and  came  to  him,  and  bound  up  his  woimds,  pouring  on 
them  oil  and  wine ;  and  he  set  him  on  his  own  beast,  and 
brought  him  to  an  inn,  and  took  care  of  him. — Luke  10. 
29-34. 

MEDITATION 

When  will  Christians  finally  learn  to  connect  the  cry  of 
Cain  repudiating  responsibility  for  his  brother's  welfare,  with 
that  previous  tragedy  in  Eden  where  Cain's  parents  tried 
to  usurp  ownership  of  God's  material  resources,  and  then  fled 
to  hide  themselves  in  the  recesses  of  the  garden?  He  who 
most  easily  is  deaf  to  God's  claim  of  personal  ownership  of 
all  possessions  will  not  find  it  difficult  to  stand  unmoved  in 
the  presence  of  human  need. — R.  S.  C. 

"They  may  not  need  me, 
Yet  they  might; 
I  let  my  heart  be 
Just  in  sight — 

"A  smile  so  small 

As  mine  might  be 
Precisely   their 
Necessity." 

— Unknown. 

A  PRAYER 

All  this  day,  0  Lord,  let  me  touch  as  many  lives  as  pos- 
sible for  thee.  And  every  life  I  touch,  do  thou  by  thy  Holy 
Spirit  quicken,  whether  through  the  word  I  speak  or  the  life 
I  live,    hi  Christ's  name.    Amen. — David  R.  Porter. 


Third  Week— Fourth  Day 

In  the  Introductory  to  this  chapter  it  was  declared  that  in 
Jesus'  teachings  there  is  no  conflict  between  stewardship  and 

61 


[III-4]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

sonship.  It  is  significant  that  He  who  so  strongly  insisted  on 
the  sovereignty  of  the  Creator  is  the  very  one  who  has  taught 
the  world  to  think  of  God  as  our  heavenly  Father.  More 
than  forty  times  in  Matthew's  Gospel  alone  is  it  recorded  that 
Jesus  so  speaks  of  the  "Father."  Although  the  expression 
is  also  used  several  times  in  the  Old  Testament,  it  was,  in 
fact,  a  new  and  wonderful  revelation  from  the  lips  of  the 
Master  that  God  yearned  for  man.  God  yearned  that  men 
should  cry  out  to  him  as  "Father" — 

"Father,  I  stretch  my  hands  to  thee, 
No  other  help   I  know." 

Now,  it  might  be  supposed,  and  frequently  is,  that  the  son 
is  exempt  from  the  exactions  of  stewardship.  Said  a  very 
pious-speaking  soul  in  central  New  York:  "I  cannot  think 
that  my  dear  heavenly  Father  is  so  exacting  as  to  want  me 
to  set  apart  a  portion  of  my  income  for  the  Kingdom.  Why, 
that  takes  the  joy  out  of  religion  for  me."  It  might  be  added 
that  there  are  many  others  whose  religious  rapture  is  cooled 
when  money  is  mentioned,  but  it  is  not  the  fault  of  a  good 
God.  What  shall  be  said  of  this  new  attempt  to  reconcile 
the  law  with  the  gospel?  Did  Jesus  come  to  abolish  or  fulfill 
the  law?  Is  there  any  difference  between  the  stewardship  of 
the  Old  Testament  and  that  of  the  New,  other  than  that  in 
the  one  instance  the  compulsion  is  of  law,  and  in  the  other,  of 
love?  If  one  refuses  to  obey  the  law  "for  love's  sweet  sake," 
is   the  law  thereby  abolished? 

President  Hyde  says,  "A  true  mother  is  never  half  as  senti- 
mentally altruistic  toward  her  child  as  a  grandmother  or  an 
aunt;  she  does  not  hesitate  to  reprove  and  correct  when  that 
is  what  the  child  needs  to  suppress  the  low  and  lazy,  and 
arouse  the  higher  and  stronger  self."  This  statement  will 
suggest  why  the  heavenly  Father  cannot  excuse  his  "son" 
from  stewardship.  He  did  not  so  shield  his  First-Born.  He 
will  not  excuse  his  other  children,  for  in  his  stewardship  the 
child  finds  the  fulfillment  of  his  life.  The  prodigal  son  will 
always  find  his  Father's  arms  outstretched  to  him;  but 
if  he  returns,  it  must  always  be  with  full  recognition  of  the 
sovereignty  of  his  Father — and  it  must  be  a  return  to  a  faith- 
ful stewardship.  No  slacker  can  be  happy  in  God's  house- 
hold. 

62 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP       [III-4] 

But  when  he  came  to  himself  he  said,  How  many  hired 
servants  of  my  father's  have  bread  enough  and  to  spare, 
and  I  perish  here  with  hunger!  I  will  arise  and  go  to 
my  father,  and  will  say  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned 
against  heaven,  and  in  thy  sight:  I  am  no  more  worthy  to 
be  called  thy  son:  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants. 
And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father.  But  while  he 
was  yet  afar  off,  his  father  saw  him,  and  was  moved  with 
compassion,  and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed 
him.  And  the  son  said  tmto  him.  Father,  I  have  sinned 
against  heaven  and  in  thy  sight:  I  am  no  more  worthy 
to  be  called  thy  son.  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants. 
Bring  forth  quickly  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on  him; 
and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet:  and 
bring  the  fatted  calf,  and  kill  it,  and  let  us  eat,  and  make 
merry:  for  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again;  he 
was  lost,  and  is  found.  And  they  began  to  be  merry. — 
Luke  15.  17-24. 

MEDITATION 

One  who  is  so  far  gone  in  "grace"  as  not  to  obey  the 
law  is  an  undesirable  citizen,  whether  in  the  civil  or  in  the 
religious  kingdom. — Col.  E.  W.  Halford. 

"I   am   a   child   in  the   darkness, 

A  little  frightened  child. 
The  winds  are  moaning  about  me 

And  the  storm  in  my  heart  is  wild. 
My  fear  would  increase  to  terror, 

Only  wherever  I  stand, 
It  is  mine  to  feel,  for  my  comfort, 
The   clasp   of   my   Father's  hand." 

— Marianne  Farningham. 

A  PRAYER 

"Infinite  and  Holy  One,  whom  we  know  as  our  Father  and 
the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  devoutly  thank 
thee  for  the  mercy  that  created  us  from  dust,  and  for  the 
greater  mercy  that  has  created  us  anew  by  thy  heavenly 
adoption  as  thy  children.  .  .  .  Grant,  we  pray,  that  thy  lov- 
ing kindness  may  be  followed  by  our  obedience;  and  do  thou 
confirm  our  best  purposes  by  renewing  our  sense  of  thy 
presence,  that  we  may  both  keep  thy  hand  and  accept  thy 
dealings  with  us  in  the  spirit  of  childlike  trust,  and  by  the 
help  of  that  dear  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen." 

63 


[III-5]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Third  Week— Fifth  Day 

There  had  been  a  fight  in  a  certain  New  England  Legisla- 
ture. A  pernicious  measure  had  been  brought  up  for  passage. 
A  congressman,  who  had  violated  his  conscience  and  his 
promise,  was  being  reproved  by  the  minority  leaders  for 
deserting  the  moral  element  of  the  State.  Finally  he  excused 
himself  by  exclaiming,  "But  a  man  has  to  think  of  his  future 
once  in  a  while."  The  reply  came  like  a  flame — "Then,  thank 
God,  I  have  no  future !" 

Jesus  taught  that  a  man  may  dare  to  trust  God  and  do 
right.  It  is  fundamental  in  Jesus'  philosophy  of  life  that  the 
future  of  the  faithful  steward  is  provided  for.  It  is  a  vital 
hour  in  one's  life  when  one  feels  this  confidence  that  "the 
Father  knoweth  the  things"  his  children  have  need  of.  He 
does  not  promise  luxuries,  but  he  does  promise  to  supply  all 
needs,  provided  the  King's  business  is  kept  first.  The  good 
steward  will  not  seek  his  own.  He  says,  "I  must  be  about 
my  Father's  business."  His  own  future  he  leaves  to  the  will 
of  God,  knowing  that  only  thus  can  the  largest  fulfillment 
of  life  come  for  him.  Paul  had  this  confidence  when  he 
wrote :  "What  things  were  gain  to  me  these  I  counted  loss 
for  Christ."  It  has  been  the  repeated  tragedy  throughout 
the  history  of  the  church,  that  so  few  of  us  have  dared  to 
take,  at  face  value,  these  wonderful  promises  of  our  Lord 
to  his  stewards. 

But  i£  God  doth  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which 
to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he 
not  much  more  clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith?  Be  not 
therefore  anxious,  saying.  What  shall  we  eat?  or,  What 
shall  we  drink?  or.  Wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed? 
For  after  all  these  things  do  the  Gentiles  seek;  for  your 
heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things.  But  seek  ye  first  his  kingdom,  and  his  righteous- 
ness; and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  imto  you. — Matt. 
6.  30-33. 

MEDITATION 

I  am  not  bound  to  win,  but  I  am  bound  to  be  true;  I  am 
not  bound  to  succeed,  but  I  am  bound  to  live  up  to  what  light 
I  have.  I  must  stand  with  anybody  that  stands  right;  stand 
with  him  while  he  is  right,  and  part  with  him  when  he  goes 
wrong. — Abraham  Lincoln. 

64 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [111-6] 

*"A  man  must  live.'     We  justify 

Low  shift  and  trick  to  treason  high. 

But  is  it  so  ?     Pray  tell  me  why 
Life  at  such  cost  you  have  to  buy. 

In   what   religion   were  you  told, 
"A  man  must  live?" 

"There  are  times  when  a  man  must  die, 

Imagine,    for   a   battle   cry 
From  soldiers,  with  a  sword  to  hold — 

From   soldiers,   with  the  flag  unrolled — 
The  coward's   whine,   this  liar's  lie, 
*A  man  must  live.' " 

— Charlotte  Perkins  Stetson. 

A  PRAYER 

Lord,  I  know  not  what  I  ought  to  ask  of  thee;  thou  only 
knowest  what  I  need.  Thou  lovest  me  better  than  I  know 
how  to  love  myself.  O  Father,  give  to  thy  child  that  which 
he  himself  knows  not  how  to  ask.  I  dare  not  ask  either  for 
crosses  or  consolations.  I  simply  present  myself  before  thee: 
I  open  my  heart  to  thee.  Behold  my  needs  which  I  know 
not  myself;  see  and  do  according  to  thy  tender  mercy. 
Amen. — Frangois  de  la  Mothe  Fenelon. 


Third  Week— Sixth  Day 

While  Jesus  taught  that  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abundance 
of  a  man's  possessions,  he  knew  that  most  of  us  would  be 
tempted  to  think  otherwise.  Indeed,  the  question,  "What  is 
a  man  worth?"  gets  an  answer  which  generally  indicates  that 
not  the  moral  or  spiritual  or  educational  value  of  the  man 
is  in  the  mind,  but  his  "money"  or  "property"  value.  Know- 
ing, then,  the  value  that  man  would  place  on  material  re- 
sources, it  is  not  strange  that  Jesus  taught  that  the  average 
man's  attitude  toward  the  kingdom  of  God  could  be  dis- 
covered by  his  attitude  toward  his  property.  The  same 
thought  is  put  in  the  language  of  a  Western  physician,  "You 
can  tell  a  man's  interest  in  anything  by  the  way  he  puts  his 
money  into  it."  //  a  disciple  can  keep  thinking  of  his  money 
as  belonging  to  God,  then  he  is  apt  to  keep  the  kingdom  of 
God  first.  Thus  the  stewardship  of  money  was  regarded  by 
Jesus  as  a  first  test  of  stewardship.    Jesus  said  of  the  unjust 

65 


[III-6]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

steward,  "If  therefore  ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  the  un- 
righteous mammon,  who  will  commit  to  your  trust  the  true 
riches?"  (Luke  i6.  ii.)  It  was  about  the  same  thing  as  say- 
ing, "If  you  do  not  keep  your  money  on  the  altar,  how  can 
you  be  of  any  use  to  the  Kingdom?" 

The  peril  involved  is  splendidly  stated  in  these  clear-cut 
words :  "When  a  Christian  begins  to  make  money,  God  gains 
a  fortune  or  loses  a  man."  It  is  a  sad  fact  that  few  passions 
are  stronger  than  the  love  of  money;  and  only  when  this 
passion  is  mastered  by  the  love  of  the  Crucified  are  men 
ready  to  be  fit  stewards  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  This  fact 
hinges  on  the  truth  that  money  is  liquid  personality,  and 
when  one  withholds  his  possessions  from  God  he  is  withhold- 
ing himself. 

And  I  say  unto  you,  Make  to  yourselves  friends  by 
means  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness;  that,  when 
it  shall  fail,  they  may  receive  you  into  the  eternal 
tabernacles.  He  that  is  faithful  in  a  very  little  is  faithful 
also  in  much:  and  he  that  is  unrighteous  in  a  very  little 
is  imrighteous  also  in  much.  If  therefore  ye  have  not 
been  faithful  in  the  unrighteous  mammon,  who  will  com- 
mit to  your  trust  the  true  riches?  And  if  ye  have  not 
been  faithful  in  that  which  is  another's,  who  will  give  you 
that  which  is  your  own? — Luke   i6.  9-12. 

MEDITATION 

Money  talks.  It  expresses  what  its  possessors  actually 
are.  .  .  .  Yes,  money  talks,  and  while  it  is  true  that 
it  is  not  on  speaking  terms  with  every  one,  and  to  many  it 
may  only  say  "Good  bye,"  yet  it  speaks  a  various  language 
which  reveals  the  true  inwardness  of  man. — David  Mc- 
Conaughy. 

From  lust  for  gain  or  greed   for  gold, 

Keep  me  with  high  and  holy  mien. 
But  if  the  ships   of   fortune  bring 

Some  precious  cargo  clear  and  clean, 
Safeguard   me   in   my   stewardship 

By  glimpses  of  thy  great  unseen. 

From  lust  for  place  or  pomp  or  power, 
Save  me  with   pure  and  passionate  pride. 
66 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [III-7] 

Curb  not  the  hunger  of  my  soul, 

But  keep  ambition  sanctified. 
Safeguard   thy    steward,    Lord,   each    day, 

By  visions  of  thy  higher  way. 

—R.  S.  C. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  for  our  sakes  became  poor,  we 
pray  thee  to  protect  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world,  that 
they  may  not  be  high-minded  nor  trust  in  the  uncertain  riches, 
but  in  thee,  the  living  God,  who  givest  us  richly  all  things  to 
enjoy.  Grant  them  grace  so  to  use  their  wealth  that  they  may 
do  good,  and  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to  distribute,  and 
willing  to  communicate ;  laying  up  in  store  for  themselves 
a  good  foundation  against  the  time  coining,  that  they  may 
lay  hold  on  eternal  life;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord. 
Amen. — Sursum  Corda. 


Third  Week— Seventh  Day 

From  the  newspapers  comes  this  bit  of  current  history: 
Three  shipwrecked  men  were  drifting  off  the  Atlantic  coast 
in  an  open  boat.  A  United  States  government  mail  steamer 
sped  by,  signaling  the  anxious  castaways  that  it  could  not 
stop  because  of  speed  orders.  However,  the  captain  did 
promise  to  send  rescuers.  Hours  later,  upon  the  arrival  of 
the  mail  boat  in  the  New  York  harbor,  the  shipwrecked 
sailors  were  reported,  but  the  captain  and  the  crew  that 
would  not  stop  to  save  human  life  were  suspended  from 
the  service  for  failure  in  duty.  The  reason  given  was  that 
no  order  for  speedy  delivery  of  mail  can  supersede  the  funda- 
mental obligation  to  save  human  life.  Personality  is  the 
supreme  thing  in  the  universe.  While  faithfulness  in  the  "un- 
righteous mammon"  is,  according  to  Jesus,  the  first  test  of 
good  stewardship,  yet  the  final  goal  is  the  rescue  of  persons. 
Everything  that  God  made  was  made  for  the  making  of  a 
man,  but  real  manhood  can  only  be  made  by  union  with  God 
through  Jesus  Christ.  Accordingly,  nothing  counts  if  this 
final  work  is  forgotten.  "Follow  me  and  I  will  make  you 
fishers  of  men"  was  the  way  Jesus  put  it  to  the  fishermen. 
Had  they  been  carpenters  he  would  have  said,  "Follow  me 
and  I  will  make  you  builders  of  men."    Had  they  been  capital- 

67 


[III-7]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

ists,  he  would  have  cried,  ''Follow  me  and  I  will  make  you 
investors  in  men !"  But  by  "men"  Jesus  meant  more  than  the 
flesh-and-blood  house.  Yes,  our  Lord  ministered  to  men's 
bodies  and  to  their  material  needs,  but  it  was  all  aimed  at 
reaching  the  soul  of  the  man  in  order  to  bring  him  to  "decide 
for  God."  This  is  the  end  of  stewardship.  God,  through  the 
prophets  of  old,  and  at  last  through  his  own  Son,  has  been 
trying  to  love  us  unto  himself  in  order  that  we  might  love 
others  unto  him  and  the  eternal  life. 

And  walking  by  the  sea  of  Galilee,  he  saw  two  brethren, 
Simon  who  is  called  Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother,  cast- 
ing a  net  into  the  sea;  for  they  were  fishers.  And  he 
saith  unto  them,  Come  ye  after  me,  and  I  will  make  you 
fishers  of  men.  And  they  straightway  left  the  nets,  and 
followed  him.  .  .  .  And  Jesus  went  about  in  all  Galilee, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  disease  and 
all  manner  of  sickness  among  the  people. — Matt.  4.  18- 
20;   23. 

MEDITATION 

Oh,  for  God's  sake,  and  the  sake  of  poor  souls,  bestir  your- 
selves, and  spare  no  pains  that  may  conduce  to  their  salvation. 
What  cause  have  we  to  mourn  before  the  Lord  that  we  have 
so  long  neglected  this  good  work !  If  we  had  but  engaged  in 
it  sooner,  how  many  more  might  have  been  brought  to  Christ ! 

— John   Wesley. 

0  Life,  thou  art  rich,  thou  art  full,  thou  art  free, 
Thou  art  mine,  new  each  morning  returning  to  me ! 
Though  the  night  has  been  long,  with  no  star  in  the  sky. 
Though  its  winds  those  of  pain  like  the  sob  or  the  sigh. 
Yet,  O  Life,  how  I  feel,  with  the  first  streaks  of  day, 
Thou  art  mine !     To  know  thee — this  the  prayer  that  I  pray. 

To  know  thee,  O  Life  Giver,  'tis  thee  that  I  see. 
In   this  glory  of   living  which   bursts   over   me ; 
To  be  with  thee  and  in  thee,  thou  life  of  my  life — 
What  of  pain,  or  of  cloud,  or  of  night,   with  its  strife! 

1  am  thine,  thou  art  mine — Life !  abundant  and  free 
And  forever  !     O  glad  contemplation  of  thee  1 

—R.  S.  C. 
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JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP        [III-7] 

A  PRAYER 

Once  more  the  long  light  breaks  across  the  eastern  sky. 
Once  more  a  new  day  challenges  to  "Forward,  march  zvith 
God!"  Lead  thou  me  on,  O  Christ.  Hold  me  so  close  to  thee 
that  in  my  face  and  from  my  lips  and  in  my  every  deed,  my 
fellow  pilgrims  too  may  see  thy  light  and  know  thy  presence 
near.  And  so,  refreshed  in  thee,  they  too  may  forward  march 
with   God.     Amen. 


69 


OUTLINE— THIRD  WEEK.     JESUS  TEACHING 
STEWARDSHIP 

1.  Introductory:   The   Stewardship   Relation. 

2.  First  Day:  Investing  What  Belongs  to  Another. 

3.  Second  Day:   Fellowship   of   Stewardship. 

4.  Third  Day:  "My  Brother's  Keeper." 

5.  Fourth   Day :    Sonship   and   Stewardship. 

6.  Fifth  Day:  The  Steward's  Future. 

7.  Sixth   Day:    Material   Stewardship   and   the   Kingdom. 

8.  Seventh  Day:   Personality  Supreme. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  is  peculiar  to  the  stewardship  relation? 

h.  How  can  it  be  said  that  Jesus  recoined  the  word  "stew- 
ard"? 

c.  How  may  we  know   God?     Should  we  be   satisfied  to 

know  his  will  alone,  or  his  love,  or  righteousness,  or 
justice,  or  mercy,  or  power? 

d.  What  is  the  first  step  toward  an  understanding  of  Chris- 

tian   stewardship?     What    is    the    difference    between 
this  step  and  conversion? 

e.  What  does  this  mean,  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's"? 

/.  How  do  you  acknowledge  that  the  earth  is  the  Lord's? 

g.  Point  out  the  different  shades  of  meaning  of  steward- 
ship found  in  the  different  words  used  by  Jesus  in 
addressing  those  who  worked  with  him. 

h.  What  word  expresses  the  relation  you  want  to  maintain 
with  God? 

2.  a.  List  all  the  values  you  control  without  any  responsibility 

to  others. 

b.  What  happens  if  you  do  not  invest  your  talents  in  any 

way? 

c.  Is  God  the  chief  partner  with  us  when  we  fail  to  recog- 

nize or  acknowledge  him  in  any  way? 
70 


JESUS  TEACHING  STEWARDSHIP       [III-oJ 

d.  How   does  a   Christian   steward   terminate   his   steward- 
ship?    What  are  his  working  hours? 

3.  a.  Is  there  a  fellowship  of  stewardship;  has  anyone  a  right 

to  claim   exemption? 

b.  What  duty  owe  you  to  yourself?  to  God?  to  your  neigh- 

bor?    (Matt.  22.  36-40.) 

c.  Does    the    statement    "I'm    not    interested    in    missions" 

furnish  any  ground  for  refusal  to  cooperate?  Is  it 
a  good  excuse? 

d.  Could  you  be  faithful  to  God  if  you  lived  entirely  away 

from  others? 

4.  a.  What   test   of  your   Christianity   and   your   stewardship 

is  better  than  "Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?"  and  "Who 
is  my  neighbor?" 

b.  Are   we    responsible    for   needs    we    do    not   know,    but 

could  easily  know?  For  knowledge  we  do  not  give 
to   others? 

c.  What  does  this  mean,  "Seek  first  the  kingdom"? 

5.  a.  How    does   the    faithful   administration    of    stewardship 

lead  to  complete  sonship? 

b.  Who  have  "the  right  to  become  children  of  God"? 

c.  Where  did  the  prodigal  son  fail  of  faithful  stewardship? 

6.  a.  Why    may    the    faithful    steward    be    confident    of    the 

future? 
b.  What  is  promised   in   Matt.  6.  30-33,   and   what  is  the 
prerequisite  condition? 

7.  a.  How  true  is  the  claim  that  "money  giving  is  the  truest 

index  we  have  of  a  vital  human  interest"  ? 

b.  What  is  "that  which  is  your  own"?  material  things,  or 

personal   qualities,   or  both? 

c.  W^hen  money  talks,  who  is  responsible  for  what  it  says? 

8.  a.  Why    is    personality     supreme?      What    was     it    God 

"breathed  into  man"  at  creation?  What  did  God 
mean  when  he  said,  "Let  us  make  man  in  our  own 
image"  ? 

b.  Can  we  estimate  a  man's  character  by  the  way  he  treats 

his  body? 

c.  If    Protestantism    converted    150.000   pagans    in    foreign 

fields  in  1920,  what  number  of  the  billion  pagans  in 
the  world  have  a  chance  to  be  saved  before  they  die? 

71 


[III-o]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

EXERCISES 

1.  What  words  mean  nearly  the  same  as  "steward"?     (man- 

ager, trustee,  superintendent,  supervisor,  director,  ad- 
ministrator, partner,  executor)  What  are  the  different 
shades  of  meaning? 

2.  How    are   you    conscious   of    God — as    a    "warmth,"    as    a 

presence,  a  feeling,  an  impulse?  (Write  as  clear  a 
statement  of  the  facts  concerning  your  experience  with 
God  as  you  are  able  to  make.) 

3.  Discuss   the    statement,    "One    has    a    right    to    do    as    one 

likes   with  one's   own." 

4.  Draw  a  plan  for  administering  all  you  control  in  partner- 

ship with  God. 

5.  Discuss  what  is  the  essence  of  patriotism.     Can  it  remain 

at  home  ? 

6.  How  much  do  you  care   for  people  who  die  in  India   for 

want  of  food,  medicine,  and  instruction?  (Write  your 
answer.) 

7.  W^hat   difference   does   the   "gospel"   make   in   our   relation 

to  the  law  ? 

8.  Point   out  the  ways  in  which  the  prodigal   son  is   a   type 

of  all  those  who  refuse  to  be  Christian  stewards. 

9.  What   do  you   mean  by   "bemg  saved"?      (Write  this   an- 

swer for  future  reference.) 

10.  Outline    this    chapter,    reducing   the    main    point    of    each 

day's   study  to  a  sentence. 


72 


CHAPTER  IV 

Stewardship  and  Service 

INTRODUCTORY 

It  has  been  said  in  a  previous  chapter  that  "stewardship" 
rather  than  "service"  is  God's  word  for  this  hour.  Indeed, 
"stewardship"  has  been  God's  ultimate  word  for  every  gen- 
eration. The  world  has  been  slow  to  receive  this  truth;  but 
at  the  present  time,  when  pagan  nations  are  developing  with 
almost  frightening  rapidity,  nothing  but  a  sense  of  stew- 
ardship on  the  part  of  the  stronger  for  the  weaker  nations, 
and  on  the  part  of  the  church  for  the  unevangelized  mil- 
lions, can  meet  God's  call.  Mere  service,  as  the  word  is 
generally  used,   is  utterly  inadequate. 

There  is  a  vital  difference  between  stewardship  and  serv- 
ice. This  difference  is  suggested  by  the  words  of  the  young 
chaplain  who  came  back  to  America,  declaring,  "I  am  going 
to  live  for  Jesus  Christ,  hereafter !"  When  asked  if  he  had 
not  previously  been  serving  Jesus  Christ,  he  replied,  "Yes, 
I  have  given  Jesus  Christ  some  service  in  a  way,  Dut  now 
I  am  going  to  give  him  my  life."  Going  back  many  centuries, 
there  is  a  somewhat  parallel  case :  Queen  Esther  doubtless 
did  more  or  less  commendable  deeds  of  kindness  to  her 
oppressed  people,  but  the  real  test  came  when  her  kinsman 
challenged  her  with  the  statement,  "Who  knoweth  whether 
thou  art  not  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as  this?" 
In  the  hour  of  emergency  it  became  clear  as  day  to  the  queen 
that  she  could  render  no  service  to  her  people  unless  she  was 
ready  to   surrender  her   whole   life   as   the   steward   of    God. 

The  same  thing  developed  in  America  during  the  World 
War.  In  the  earlier  period  multitudes  showed  their  benev- 
olent spirit  by  doing  more  or  less  service  for  some  patriotic 
organization,  but  how  few  felt  that  deeper  agony  which  a 
contemporary  novelist  put  into  these  words  :  "Miss  Katherine 
Brown  walked  down  the  village  street  to-day  in  her  white 

73 


[IV-i]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

freshness,  and  behind  her  in  palHd  spectral  procession  those 
martyred  girls  of  France  and  Belgium  who  had  suffered  worse 
than  death  and  still  were  living.  I  saw  their  eyes  with  youth 
dead  in  them."  But  events  culminated,  and  gradually  the 
truth  dawned  that  something  deeper  than  benevolence  was 
demanded  of  the  American  people.  A  Western  poet,  Theresa 
Virginia  Beard,  voiced  the  growing  feeling  that  America  had 
a  stewardship  intrusted  to  her : 

"God   spare  thee  not,   America, 

This  penitential,  day. 
Against  the  wall  in  Flanders 

The  nations  stand  at  bay; 
And  you,  the  strong,  the  mighty, 

A  laggard  in  the  fray!" 

And  at  last  the  majority  of  Americans  came  to  the  realiza- 
tion of  duty;  our  boys  enlisted  as  soldiers,  our  girls  gave 
themselves  as  nurses,  business  men  offered  their  services  to 
the  government  for  a  "dollar  a  year."  AH  over  the  nation 
men  and  women  forgot  themselves  and  their  own  interests 
in  the  presence  of  a  commanding  task.  This  was  not  service 
— it  was  stewardship.  It  was  not  a  side  issue ;  it  was,  for 
the  hour,   the  reason  for  existence. 

To  say  that  "stewardship"  is  God's  word  for  the  twentieth 
century  is  by  no  means  to  discount  the  importance  of  serv- 
ice. Rather  it  is  to  rescue  the  word  from  the  commercial 
environment  into  which  it  has  fallen.  "Quick  Service," 
"R Road  Service,"  "Service  is  the  Big  Thing,"  "Depend- 
able Service,"  "Service  Right  to  the  Minute,"  "Service  at 
Cost,"  are  a  few  of  the  hundreds  of  advertisements  which 
greet  the  traveler  in  every  part  of  the  country,  suggesting 
that  service  has  come  to  mean  something  that  you  pay  for; 
or,  to  turn  the  thought  around,  a  man  gives  his  service,  expect- 
ing to  receive  something  in  return.  Thus  it  becomes  more  and 
more  necessary  in  a  commercial  age  to  discover  what  is  the 
service  that  is  exhorted  in  the  Scriptures  for  love's  sweet 
sake  as  pleasing  unto  the  Lord. 

"Saved  to  serve"  is  an  expression  that  should  and  will 
live,  but  it  needs  interpretation.  We  are  saved  to  be  fellow 
workers  with  God  as  trusted  stewards,  and  the  good  steward 
is  ever  on  the  alert  to  do  service  in  his  Master's  name. 

74 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-i] 

Repeat  the  words.  "In  his  Master's  name,"  for  the  phrase 
helps  to  distinguish  between  a  so-called  type  of  philanthropist 
and  the  Christian  steward.  Out  in  California  is  a  great  red- 
wood tree  towering  majestically  up  into  the  heavens  to  the 
glory  of  God,  who  through  many  centuries  has  fed  it  and 
loved  it.  And  yet  some  human  authority  has  dared  to  appro- 
priate that  glorious  handiwork  of  the  Almighty  and  has  en- 
graved  on   it,    "Dedicated   to   the   Alemory   of   ."     Just 

so  numerous  men  and  women,  both  in  and  out  of  the  King- 
dom, in  their  own  name  and  to  their  own  glory  are  making 
gifts,  more  or  less  generous,  of  money  and  service,  all  of 
which  ought  to  be  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  Him  who  out  of 
his  boundless  resources  has  given  us  all  these  things.  Thus, 
while  there  are  many  differences  between  the  ordinary  "serv- 
ice" and  "stewardship,"  the  outstanding  distinction  of  the 
Christian  steward  is  that  whatever  he  gives  of  service  or 
money  it  is  all  done  in  the  name  of  his  Lord.  The  illustra- 
tions of  the  practical  working  of  this  principle  are  numerous. 
The  life  of  the  late  William  E.  Dodge,  of  New  York,  is  cited 
here,  partly  because  of  this  excellent  characterization  of  the 
man  given  at  his  death  by  one  who  knew  him  well :  "His 
wealth  was  a  sacred  trust ;  he  was  but  the  steward  to  ad- 
minister it,  and  the  more  that  was  poured  into  his  lap,  the 
greater  were  his  obligations.  There  was  no  plainer  duty,  as 
there  was  no  higher  joy  than  to  bestow  upon  others  some 
portion  of  that  which  the  Great  Giver  and  Benefactor  had 
bestowed  upon  him.  With  such  a  principle  once  settled  in 
his  mind  and  formed  into  habit,  it  was  no  effort  for  him 
to  give  away  money.  It  did  not  cost  him  a  struggle  with 
conscience  every  time  he  was  asked  to  contribute  to  some 
good  cause.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  a  pleasure  to  give.  He 
sought  for  opportunities." 

In  concluding  this  introductory,  it  is  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance to  see  that  stewardship  as  the  basis  of  any  service, 
acceptable  to  God,  must  be  insisted  upon  if  we  are  to  main- 
tain that  important  scriptural  doctrine  that  salvation  is  by 
faith  alone.  Evidently,  no  man  can  pay  his  way  into  the 
kingdom  of  God  by  any  service  he  can  render  if  Jesus'  declara- 
tion is  to  be  accepted.  On  a  certain  occasion  he  said,  "When 
ye  shall  have  done  all  the  things  that  are  commanded  you, 
say.    We   are    unprofitable    servants"    (Luke    17.    10). 

Said  the  apostle  Paul,  "By  the  works  of  the  law  shall  no 


[IV-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight"  (Rom.  3.  20).  It  is  easy  to 
see  where  the  hymn  writer  found  authority  to  sing, 

"In  my  hand  no  price  I  bring; 
Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling." 

It  is  only  that  person,  who  has  deceived  himself  into  think- 
ing that  he  has  any  wealth  of  money  or  service  that  he  can 
give  God,  who  fails  to  see  the  matchless  glory  and  comfort 
of  such  hymns  as  these.     Only  such  could  go  on  to  sing: 

"Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea, 
But  that  thy  blood  was  shed  for  me, 
And  that  thou  bidst  me  come  to  thee, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come — I  come." 

The  fundamental  principle  of  stewardship  is  that  God,  by 
creation  and  redemption,  is  the  actual  owner  of  all  material 
and  spiritual  resources.  What  has  a  man  to  give  God  ?  Noth- 
ing but  a  surrendered  will  and  the  loving  obedience  of  the 
good  steward.  Is  it  not  apparent  that  there  can  be  no  "serv- 
ice" pleasing  to  God  which  is  not  the  expression  or  confession 
of  stewardship? 

DAILY  READINGS 

Fourth  Week— First  Day 

Stewardship  is  service  regarded  not  as  an  avocation  hut 
as  the  main  business  of  life.  William  E.  Sweet,  in  his  little 
volume,  The  Business  Man  and  His  Overflow,  after  compli- 
menting the  conduct  of  the  American  business  man  during 
the  World  War,  sounds  this  alarm:  "One  of  the  by-products 
of  the  War  has  been  the  cultivation  of  habits  of  thrift  and 
economy;  but  a  still  greater  by-product  is  the  instilling  of 
the  spirit  of  generosity.  Men  have  been  led  through  patriotic 
appeals  to  give  more  largely  than  they  ever  before  thought 
possible.  They  have  experienced  the  satisfaction  which  comes 
from  generous  and  unselfish  acts  that  are  expressed  in  serv- 
ice or  money.  Now  that  the  war  is  over,  will  these  men  in 
whom  this  new  impulse  has  been  born,  fall  hack  into  their 
former  narrow  round  of  family  and  business  interest,  or  will 
they  welcome  additional  opportunities  for  usefulness  and 
generous  service?"    What  is  the  real  question  in  this  quota- 

76 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-i] 

tion?  May  it  not  be  put  in  some  such  words  as  these  :  "When 
do  men  see  most  clearly — in  time  of  peace  or  in  time  of  war?" 
"When  do  men  give  the  truest  answer  to  the  eternal  ques- 
tion, 'What  is  the  main  business  of  living'?"  How  different 
would  be  the  world  if  men  and  nations  would  hold  in  times 
of  peace  the  same  high  sense  of  stewardship  which  rises  to  the 
surface  in  times  of  stress  1  When  Edith  Cavell  wrote,  "Pa- 
triotism is  not  enough,"  she  sounded  the  most  patriotic  note 
of  all  her  life.  Only  that  patriotism  which  is  builded  on  the 
consciousness  of  a  divine  stewardship  is  sufficient  in  the  hours 
of  emergency,  which  are  most  frequently  the  hours  of  peace. 

"What  was  the  matter  back  there?"  inquired  a  passenger 
on  the  Illinois  Central  to  his  friend,  the  conductor. 

"Oh,  I  was  doing  a  little  of  the  Master's  business,"  replied 
the  conductor.  "That  woman  whose  face  you  do  not  like  was 
trying  to  select  a  boarding  place  for  those  girls  who  are  going 
into  the  city  to  work  for  the  first  time.  I  told  them  that  my 
wife  would  be  at  the  station  and  they  could  stay  with  us  to- 
night and  until  they  found  the  right  kind  of  a  place." 

"That  is  a  fine  thing  for  you  to  do!"  exclaimed  the  pas- 
senger, "and  rather  exceptional  for  a  man  in  your  busy  life." 

The  passenger  has  recorded  that  the  conductor  replied : 
"That  is  my  business.  I  feel  that  I  am  not  onlj^  responsible 
to  the  Illinois  Central  for  the  comfort  of  my  passengers,  but 
I  have  a  certain  responsibility  to  Jesus  Christ  for  their  souls. 
My  business  is  to  serve  Jesus  Christ.  I  am  working  for  the 
Illinois  Central  to  cover  expenses." 

After  all  is  said,  is  there  any  difference  in  the  vocations  of 
the  men  who  are  really  Christian?  In  to-day's  Scripture  Paul 
is  speaking  as  a  layman.  He  would  have  been  clearly  justified 
in  claiming  support  from  the  church  at  Ephesus  while  he 
preached  to  them  the  gospel,  but  peculiar  circumstances  made 
it  advisable  for  him  to  stand  as  a  layman  among  laymen.  He 
made  tents  for  a  living,  but  there  was  no  question  about  his 
main  business. 

Take  heed  unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock,  in 
which  the  Holy  Spirit  hath  made  you  bishops,  to  feed 
the  church  of  the  Lord  which  he  purchased  with  his  own 
blood.  .  .  .  Wherefore  watch  ye,  remembering  that 
by  the  space  of  three  years  I  ceased  not  to  admonish 
every  one  night  and  day  with  tears.  ...  I  coveted  no 
man's   silver,  or  gold,  or  apparel.     Ye  yourselves  know 

77 


[IV-2]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

that  these  hands  ministered  unto  my  necessities,  and  to 
them  that  were  with  me.  In  all  things  I  gave  you  an  ex- 
ample, that  so  laboring  ye  ought  to  help  the  weak,  and 
to  remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  he  him- 
self said.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. — 
Acts  20.  28,  31,  33-35- 

MEDITATION 

Do  not  pray  for  easy  lives !  Pray  to  be  stronger  men !  Do 
not  pray  for  tasks  equal  to  your  powers !  Pray  for  powers 
equal  to  your  tasks !  Then  the  doing  of  your  work  shall  be 
no  miracle.  But  you  shall  be  a  miracle.  Every  day  you  shall 
wonder  at  yourself,  at  the  richness  of  life  which  has  come 
in  you  by  the  grace  of  God. — Phillips  Brooks. 

"Rest   is  not   quitting 
The  busy  career ; 
Rest  is  the  fitting 
Of  self  to  its  sphere. 

'Tis  loving  and  serving 

The  highest  and  best: 
'Tis  onward,  unswerving — 

And  that  is  true  rest !" 

— John  Sullivan  Dwight. 

A  PRAYER 

Eternal  God,  zvho  committest  to  us  the  swift  and  solemn 
trust  of  life;  since  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth, 
but  only  that  the  hour  for  serving  thee  is  always  present,  may 
we  wake  to  the  instant  claims  of  thy  holy  will;  not  waiting  for 
to-morrow,  but  yielding  to-day.  Lay  to  rest  by  the  persuasion 
of  thy  Spirit,  the  resistance  of  our  passion,  indolence  or  fear. 
Consecrate  with  thy  presence  the  way  our  feet  may  go;  in 
all  things  draw  us  to  the  mind  of  Christ,  that  ihy  lost  image 
may  be  traced  again,  and  thou  mayst  own  its  as  at  one  with 
him  and  thee.     Amen. — James  Martineau. 


Fourth  Week — Second  Day 

Just  because  the  fulfillment  of  stewardship  is  the  main  busi- 
ness of  life  Jesus  demands  that  service  shall  be  heroic  enough 
not  to  falter  at  any  cost.     Just  as  David  refused  to  render 

78 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-2] 

unto  the  Lord  that  which  cost  him  nothing,  so  the  Christian 
steward  will  refused  to  classify  charity  balls,  "benefit"  parties 
and  the  like,  as  serz'ice  to  the  King.  The  woman  who  replied, 
"Oh,  I  really  cannot  be  tied  down  to  a  Sunday-school  class," 
and  the  well-groomed  man  who  tries  to  "tip"  God  with  a 
dime  or  maybe  a  quarter  on  Sundays,  have  a  good  deal  in 
common  with  the  so-called  charitable  person  who  does  a  little 
"service"  for  humanity  without  making  any  appreciable  inroad 
on  his  income.  None  of  these  know  that  service  which  has 
its  source  in  Jesus'  philosophy  of  Christian  stewardship. 

"Lord,  let  me  not  be  too  content 
With  life  in  trifling  service  spent." 

Dr.  Hyde  well  says :  "Mere  altruism  is  often  weakly  kind, 
'making  others  feebly  dependent  on  our  benefactions  instead 
of  sturdily  self-supporting.  .  .  .  And  even  fostering  a 
subtle  egotism  in  ourselves  as  the  result  of  the  fatal  habit 
of  doing  the  easy,  kind  thing,  rather  than  the  hard,  severe 
thing  that  is  needed  to  lift  to  the  highest  attainment." 

During  the  Great  War  a  certain  mother  in  Michigan  found 
it  easy  and  natural  to  do  some  service,  along  with  other 
women,  for  the  Red  Cross,  and  the  like.  But  one  day  her  own 
boy  came  to  obtain  consent  to  enlist  in  the  army.  Then  came 
the  struggle  of  her  life.  The  battle  was  only  won  after  a 
long  night  of  agony  in  prayer.  In  the  morning  she  said,  "God 
showed  me  that  unless  I  could  surrender  all  that  I  have  to  my 
country,  never  again  could  I  look  up  at  the  flag  of  my  fathers 
and  sing  with  honesty, 

"My  country,  'tis  of  thee, 

Sweet  land  of  liberty.    .    .    ." 

That  mother,  with  thousands  of  others,  learned  the  differ- 
ence between  a  little  service,  given  with  more  or  less  incon- 
venience to  self,  and  the  deeper  consecration  and  sacrifice  that 
Jesus  demands. 

Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disciples,  If  any  man  would 
come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his 
cross,  and  follow  me.  For  whosoever  would  save  his  life 
shall  lose  it:  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it.    For  what  shall  a  man  be  profited,  if  he 

79 


[IV-3]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  forfeit  his  life?  or  what 
shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  life?  For  the  Son 
of  man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  his 
angels;  and  then  shall  he  render  unto  every  man  accord- 
ing to  his  deeds. — Matt.  i6.  24-27. 

MEDITATION 

The  practical  weakness  of  the  vast  mass  of  modern  pity  for 
the  poor  and  the  oppressed  is  precisely  that  it  is  merely  pity : 
the  pity  is  pitiful,  but  not  respectful.  Men  feel  that  the  cruelty 
to  the  poor  is  a  kind  of  cruelty  to  animals.  They  never  feel 
that  it  is  injustice  to  equals — nay,  it  is  treachery  to  comrades. 

— G.  K.  Chesterton. 

"At  length  when  the  war's  at  an  end, 
And  we  are  just  ourselves,  you  and  I, 
And  we  gather  our  lives  up  to  mend, 

We,  who've  learned  how  to  live  and  to  die ; 
Shall  we  think  of  the  old  ambition. 
For  riches  or  how  to  grow  wise, 
When,  like  Lazarus  freshly  arisen. 

We've  the  presence  of  death  in  our  eyes?" 

— Eric    Dawson. 

A  PRAYER 

Blessed  Lord,  who  wast  tempted  in  all  things  like  as  we  arc, 
have  mercy  upon  our  frailty.  Out  of  weakness  give  us 
strength.  Grant  to  us  thy  fear,  that  we  may  fear  thee  only. 
Support  us  in  time  of  temptation.  Embolden  us  in  the  time 
of  danger.  Help  us  to  do  thy  work  with  good  courage,  and 
to  continue  thy  faithful  soldiers  and  servants  unto  our  life's 
end;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. — Bishop  B.  F. 
Westcott. 


Fourth  Week— Third  Day 

Jesus'  philosophy  of  stewardship  lifts  service  to  a  new 
level  by  making  it  consequent  upon  the  right  attitude  toward 
God.  It  makes  all  the  difference  in  whose  name  service  is 
rendered.  Jesus  himself  was  most  careful  to  give  glory  to 
the  name  of  the  Father;  and  numerous  are  his  warnings  to 
his  disciples  to  ask  and  do  "in  my  name."  The  honor  and 
glory  belongs  to  God,  for  "Thou  hast  made  us  and  not  we 

80 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-3] 

ourselves."  The  disciple  must  never  forget  that  he  serves  for 
his  Lord.  On  this  Jesus  insisted :  'And  whosoever  shall  give 
to  drink  unto  one  of  these  little  ones  a  cup  of  cold  water  only, 
in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  verily  I  say  unto  you  he  shall  in 
no  wise  lose  his  reward"  (Matt.  10.  42).  Paul  likewise 
emphasizes  that  the  service  of  the  Christian  steward  must  be 
superior  to  that  of  the  mere  philanthropist,  for  he  is  not  repre- 
senting himself,  and  for  the  very  good  reason  that  whatever 
he  gives  has  first  been  given  to  him  in  trust. 

Let  a  man  so  account  of  us,  as  of  ministers  of  Christ, 
and  stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  Here,  moreover, 
it  is  required  in  stewards,  that  a  man  be  found  faithful, 
.  .  .  but  he  that  judgeth  me  is  the  Lord.  Wherefore 
judge  nothing  before  the  time,  until  the  Lord  come,  who 
will  both  bring  to  light  the  hidden  things  of  darkness,  and 
make  manifest  the  counsels  of  the  hearts;  and  then  shall 
each  man  have  his  praise  from  God.  .  .  .  For  who 
maketh  thee  to  differ?  and  what  hast  thou  that  thou 
didst  not  receive?  but  if  thou  didst  receive  it,  why  dost 
thou  glory  as  if  thou  hadst  not  received  it? — i  Cor.  4.  i- 
2,  4,  5,  7- 

MEDITATION 

Then  there  is  the  danger  of  the  high  cost  of  life  that  we 
are  spending  so  lavishly,  largely  in  the  effort  to  finance  the 
Kingdom  task  without  the  tithe.  .  .  .  The  ministry  to-day 
is  nervously  overwrought  through  the  ceaseless  effort  to  ex- 
tract money  without  pain  from  folks  who  are  not  stewards 
of  their  wealth. — William  H.  Phelps. 

There  is  nothing  so  small  but  that  we  honor  God  by  asking 
his  guidance  of  it,  or  insult  him  by  taking  it  into  our  own 
hands. — John  Riiskin. 

A  cricket's  chirrup, 

A  tender  sky, 
Night  is  on  coming 

And  day  must  die. 

A  twihght  hush, 

An  evening  star, 
Gloomy  the  night; 

But  God  is  not  far ! 


[IV-4]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  blaze  in  the  east, 
A  burnished  sky, 
God  on  the  hilltop; 
Day  cannot  die. 

—R.  S.  C. 
A  PRAYER 

Teach  us,  good  Lord,  to  serve  thee  as  thou  deservest;  to 
give  and  not  to  count  the  cost;  to  fight  and  not  to  heed  the 
wounds;  to  toil  and  riot  to  seek  for  rest;  to  labor  and  not  to 
ask  for  any  reward,  save  that  of  knowing  that  we  do  thy  will; 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen. — Ignatius  de  Loyola. 


Fourth  Week— Fourth  Day 

Moreover,  stewardship  lifts  service  to  a  new  level  by 
properly  relating  it  to  Jesus  Christ.  Or  it  might  be  said  that 
Christian  stewardship  is  service  plus  the  right  motive.  "Isn't 
that  little  boy  too  heavy  for  you  to  carry?"  said  the  passer-by 
to  a  little  girl  who  was  bending  backward  under  her  burden. 
"Oh,  no,"  came  the  answer,  "for  he  is  my  brother."  The 
incident  is  suggestive  of  the  loving  gratitude  that  a  disciple 
has  to  Christ,  and  that  is  the  greatest  motive  to  service  that 
the  world  can  know. 

Dr.  Andrew  Gillies,  in  his  volume.  The  Individualistic  Gos- 
pel, reviews  the  claim  that  was  advanced  in  certain  quarters 
during  the  Great  War  that  the  American  soldier  facing  death 
on  the  battlefield  does  not  need  to  make  a  confession  of  his 
faith  in  God  in  order  to  be  saved,  and  asks :  "Does  the  act 
of  fighting  in  a  good  cause  automatically  put  a  man  on  good 
terms  with  God  and  assure  him  of  salvation  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  he  has  no  conscious  faith,  and  regardless  of  his 
personal  character?"  Dr.  Gillies  answered  this  question  in 
the  negative ;  and  Joyce  Kilmer,  before  he  was  killed  in  ac- 
tion in  France,  refuted  the  assumption  that  either  soldier  or 
civilian,  by  service  however  heroic,  could  gain  Heaven's  favor 
regardless  of  the  right  relation  to  Jesus  Christ.  As  the 
poet  soldier,  Joyce  Kilmer,  cries  out,  "My  shoulders  ache  be- 
neath my  pack,"  he  remembers  the  march  to  Calvary,  and 
silences  his  own  pain  by  replying, 

("Lie  easier,  cross  upon  His  back.) 
82 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-4] 

My  rifle  hand  is  stiff  and  numb, 

(From  Thy  pierced  palm  red  rivers  come!) 

Lord,  thou  didst  suffer  more   for  me 

Than  all  the  hosts  of  land  and  sea. 

So  let  me  render  back  again 

This  millionth  of  thy  gift.     Amen." 

The  soldier  repudiates  any  attempt  to  do  service  save  in  the 
name  and  in  loving  gratitude  to  him  who  bought  us  with  a 
great  price.  Therefore  Paul  declares  that  we  are  owned  by 
the  Lord  on  two  counts — creation  and  redemption. 

Or  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  a  temple  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  which  is  in  you,  which  ye  have  from  God?  and  ye 
are  not  your  own;  for  ye  were  bought  with  a  price: 
glorify  God  therefore  in  your  body. — i  Cor.  6.  19,  20. 

And  in  another  letter  to  the  same  church  Paul  goes  on  with 
a  similar  argument,  showing  that  those  who  have  been  bought 
by  Christ  have  no  right  to  live  unto  themselves. 

For  the  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us;  because  we 
thus  judge,  that  one  died  for  all,  therefore  all  died;  and 
he  died  for  all,  that  they  that  live  should  no  longer  live 
unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  who  for  their  sakes  died 
and  rose  again.  .  .  .  Wherefore  if  any  man  is  in  Christ, 
he  is  a  new  creature:  the  old  things  are  passed  away; 
behold,  they  are  become  liew. — 2  Cor.  5.  14,  15,  17. 


MEDITATION 

'What  matters  death  if  freedom  be  not  dead? 

No  flags  are  fair,  if  freedom's  flag  be  furled. 
Who  fights  for  freedom  goes  with  joyful  tread 

To  meet  the  fires  of  hell  against  him  hurled, 
And  has  for  Captain  him  whose  thorn-wreathed  head 

Smiles  from  the  Cross  upon  a  conquered  world." 

— loyce  Kilmer. 

"If  we  have  whispered  truth. 
Whisper  no  longer ; 
Speak  as  the  tempest  does. 
Sterner  and  stronger." 

— John    Greenleaf   Whittier. 

83 


[IV-5]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Jesus  Christ  is  not  evolution's  finest  product  or  the  world's 
greatest  saint,  but  the  world's  only  Saviour,  who  atoned  on 
Calvary  for  man's  sin.  Salvation  is  a  spiritual  rebirth, 
brought  about  by  conscious  repentance  and  faith,  and  con- 
versely, by  a  beneficent  work  of  grace  wrought  in  personality 
by  the  Holy  Spirit.  — Andrew  Gillies. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  didst  humble  thyself  to  become 
man,  and  to  be  born  into  the  world  for  our  salvation,  teach 
us  the  grace  of  humility,  root  out  of  our  hearts  all  pride  and 
haughtiness,  and  so  fashion  us  after  thy  holy  likeness  in  this 
world,  that  in  the  world  to  come  we  may  be  made  like  unto 
thee ;  for  thine  own  name  and  mercies'  sake.  Amen. — Bishop 
Walsham  How, 


Fourth  Week— Fifth  Day- 
Christian  stewardship  lifts  service  above  mere  pity  and 
generosity  by  giving  it  a  commanding  objective  which  is  noth- 
ing short  of  spiritual  regeneration  of  the  individual.  Thus 
stewardship  differs  from  philanthropy  and  mere  service  in  its 
fundamental  purpose.  Stewardship  does  not  serve  merely 
because  of  spasms  of  emotion,  but  because  of  the  profound 
conviction  that  the  steward  is  called  to  reconcile  man  to  God. 
A  modern  poet  has  written  with  a  careless  burst  of  benev- 
olence : 

"So  many  gods,  so  many  creeds. 

So  many  paths  that  wind  and  wind, 
When  just  the  art  of  being  kind 
Is  all  the  sad  world  needs.'' 

Kindness  is  indeed  the  need  of  the  world,  but  kindness  was 
born  out  of  the  heart  of  God  and  can  only  flourish  where 
there  is  the  right  attitude  toward  him.  Moreover,  kindness 
that  merely  ministers  to  the  physical  or  even  moral  needs 
falls  short  of  consummation.  This  is  not  simply  the  con- 
clusion of  theorists.  Every  great  crisis  in  history  emphasizes 
the  futility  of  service  that  does  not  point  to  Jesus  Christ. 
This  is  the  only  ultimate  explanation  of  such  words  as  these, 
spoken  a  few  years  ago  by  Henry  Watterson :  "The  paramount 

84 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-5] 

question  underlying  the  issue  of  democracy  is  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Eliminate  Christ  and  you  leave  the  earth  to 
eternal  war,"  The  apostle  Paul  in  to-day's  Scripture  lesson  is 
actually  in  the  business  of  the  reconstruction  of  nations  as  he 
seeks  to  bring  individuals  into  personal  reconciliation  with 
God. 

But  all  things  are  of  God,  who  reconciled  us  to  him- 
self through  Christ,  and  gave  unto  us  the  ministry  of 
reconciliation;  to  wit,  that  God  was  in  Christ  reconciling 
the  world  imto  himself,  not  reckoning  unto  them  their 
trespasses,  and  having  comm.itted  unto  us  the  word  of 
reconciliation.  We  are  ambassadors  therefore  on  behalf 
of  Christ,  as  though  God  were  entreating  by  us:  we  be- 
seech you  on  behalf  of  Christ,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God. 
Him  who  knew  no  sin  he  made  to  be  sin  on  our  behalf; 
that  we  might  become  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him. — 
2  Cor.  5.  18-21. 

MEDITATION 

"You  asked  me  how  I  gave  my  heart  to  Christ? 

I  do  not  know. 
There  came  a  yearning  for  him  in  my  soul. 

So  long  ago. 
I  found  earth's  flowers  would  fade  and  die, 
I  wept  for  something  that  could  satisfy ; 
And  then — and  then — somehow  I  seemed  to  dare 
To  lift  my  broken  heart  to  him  in  prayer. 
I  do  not  know — 

I  cannot  tell  you  how; 
I  only  know 
He  is  my  Saviour  now,"  — Unknown. 

We  might  as  well  make  an  experiment  with  the  teachings 
of  Jesus  Christ,  as  almost  everything  else  has  been  tried  and 
failed.  I  am  no  more  a  Christian  than  Pilate  was ;  and  yet  I 
am  ready  to  admit  that  after  contemplating  the  world  of 
human  nature  for  nearly  sixty  years  I  see  no  way  out  of  the 
world's  misery  but  the  way  of  Christ's  will. — George  Bernard 
Shaw. 

A  PRAYER 

Blessed  Lord  Jesus,  who  hast  said  that  except  a  man  be  born 
of  the  Spirit  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  purify  our 

85    ■ 


[IV-6]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

hearts,  we  beseech  thee,  that,  having  been  redeemed  by  thy 
most  precious  blood,  we  may  know  indeed  the  changed  heart 
and  the  transfigured  life.  Give  to  us,  we  pray  thee,  such  con- 
viction of  thy  power  to  bring  light  out  of  darkness,  joy  out  of 
despair,  and  victory-  out  of  defeat;  and  of  thy  eternal  readi- 
ness so  to  transform  all  who  will  truly  abandon  themselves 
unto  thee,  that,  trusting  in  thy  Holy  Spirit,  we  may  this  day 
and  always  be  living  evangels  of  thy  power  to  save.    Amen. 


Fourth  Week— Sixth  Day 

"Tired!  well,  what  of  that?     Didst  fancy  life  was  spent  on 

beds  of  ease, 
Fluttering  the  rose  leaves  scattered  by  the  breeze? 
Come  !    Rouse  thee,  work  while  it's  called  to-day ! 
Onward,  arise — go  forth  upon  the  way !" 

Stewardship  lifts  service  into  a  high  atmosphere  of  eternal 
duty,  safe  from  these  softening  influences  of  convenience 
and  self-indulgence.  It  is  true  that  the  steward  will  see 
ecstatic  moments  when  the  severest  crosses  will  be  easily 
carried  on  a  flood  of  divine  emotion,  but  ordinarily  it  is  not 
so.  Stern  duty  must  be  marshaled  to  bear  us  on.  During 
those  first  days  of  being  swallowed  up  in  the  jungles  of 
Africa  Dan  Crawford  tells  us  how  he  all  but  lost  his  song. 
At  length  in  a  burst  of  heroism  he  cried,  "My  heart  is  fixed, 
O  God ;  I  will  sing !" 

Perhaps  the  richest  heritage  that  the  Antarctic  explorer, 
Captain  Scott,  has  left  to  his  posterity,  is  those  noble  words 
that  he  wrote  in  his  diary  in  that  last  terrible  day.  About  to 
die,  he  declared  to  the  world  that  no  circumstances,  however 
dire,  can  warrant  a  forgetting  of  our  moral  and  spiritual 
responsibility  to  God.  When  he  and  his  men  had  apparently 
reached  the  limit  of  endurance,  and  it  had  become  certain 
that  death  would  soon  claim  them  all,  at  first  the  chief  surgeon 
was  ordered  to  give  to  each  man  thirty  opium  tabloids  to  be 
used  at  the  discretion  of  each  unfortunate  man;  but  with  a 
heroism  almost  impossible  to  imagine,  the  decision  to  employ 
the  easy  method  of  death  was  revoked,  and  the  diary  reads : 
"We  must  be  near  the  end.  1  have  decided  it  shall  be  natural. 
We  shall  march  for  the  depot  with  or  without  our  effects  and 
die  in  our  tracks!"    This  is  the  same  spirit  that  Paul  portrays 

86 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-6] 

in  to-day's  Scripture :  Whether  I  face  my  work  eagerly  or 
shrinkingly,  nevertheless  I  have  a  stewardship  intrusted  to 
me,  and  I  must  and  will  be  true. 

For  if  I  preach  the  gospel,  I  have  nothing  to  glory  of; 
for  necessity  is  laid  upon  me;  for  woe  is  unto  me,  if  I 
preach  not  the  gospel.  For  if  I  do  this  of  mine  own  will, 
I  have  a  reward:  but  if  not  of  mine  own  will,  I  have  a 
stewardship  intrusted  to  me. — i  Cor.  9.  16,  17. 

But  in  the  heart  of  the  apostle's  life  there  is  revealed  the 
secret  of  his  devotion  to  his  task.  It  takes  more  than  a  ship- 
wreck to  shake  his  great  confidence  that  he  belongs  to  God : 

And  now  I  exhort  you  to  be  of  good  cheer;  for  there 
shall  be  no  loss  of  life  among  you,  but  only  of  the  ship. 
For  there  stood  by  me  this  night  an  angel  of  the  God 
whose  I  am,  whom  also  I  serve,  saying,  Fear  not,  Paul; 
thou  must  stand  before  Caesar:  and  lo,  God  hath  granted 
thee  all  them  that  sail  with  thee.  Wherefore,  sirs,  be 
of  good  cheer:  for  I  believe  God,  that  it  shall  be  even 
so  as  it  hath  been  spoken  unto  me. — Acts  27.  22-25. 

MEDITATION 

Thank  God  every  morning  when  you  get  up  that  you  have 
something  to  do  that  day  which  must  be  done,  whether  you 
like  it  or  not.  Being  forced  to  work  and  forced  to  do  your 
best  will  breed  in  you  temperance,  self-control,  diligence, 
strength  of  will,  content,  and  a  hundred  virtues  which  the 
idle  will  never  know. — Charles  Kingsley. 

Out  of  the  shame  of  my  coward  heart, 

Out  of  my  night  of  defeat, 
Lift  me,  O  God,  to  the  battle  again, 

Cover  my  bitter  retreat. 

Out  of  despising  my  weakness  and  rout, 

Out  of  the  love  of  thy  soul. 
Purge  me,  O  purge,  with  thy  hyssop,  dear  Christ, 

Give  me  my  spirit  made  whole. 


Beaten,  but  still  undefeated,  I  pray, 

Thou  of  unconquerable  hand, 
Reach  me  my  poor  broken  sabre  again, 

I  pledge  thee  to  die  or  to  stand!  — R.  S.  C. 

87 


[IV-7]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  God,  give  me  the  desire  to  he  persistent  in  service 
while  I  have  the  health  and  strength.  May  I  experience  the 
sweetness  that  comes  in  doing  the  thing  that  I  ought  to  have 
done  as  well  as  that  in  which  I  took  most  pleasure.  Help  me 
so  to  live  that  my  days  tnay  be  thy  days,  through  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Lord.     Amen. — Margaret  Bird  Steinmetz. 


Fourth  Week— Seventh  Day 

Stewardship  is  an  invitation  to  friendship  with  God.  While 
it  is  doubtless  true  that  many  stewards  never  rise  above  the 
legal  relation  of  a  servant  to  his  master,  nevertheless  it  is 
the  desire  of  the  Lord  that  all  be  promoted  into  that  higher 
loving  relationship  where  he  may  cherish  them  as  "friends." 
It  took  Jesus  a  long  time  to  bring  his  disciples  into  even  such 
partial  sympathy  with  his  program  that  he  can  say  as  he  does 
in  to-day's  Scripture,  "No  longer  do  I  call  you  servants ; 
.  .  .  but  I  have  called  you  friends."  Notice  that  Jesus 
indicates  that  the  difference  between  the  higher  and  the  lower 
grade  of  stewardship  lies  in  not  knowing  "what  his  Lord 
doeth."  In  other  words,  that  closer  friendship  with  the  Lord 
grows  in  proportion  as  we  share  with  him  his  passion  to 
redeem  all  people  in  all  the  world. 

"Why,  the  idea  of  Edna  wanting  to  be  a  missionary!"  was 
the  calloused  exclamation  of  a  New  England  church  woman 
whose  daughter  had  returned  from  the  Silver  Bay  summer 
conference  to  announce  to  her  parents  the  new  conviction  of 
her  life.  "We  can  give  Edna  anything  she  wants.  She  can 
go  to  school  anywhere.  She  can  travel  around  the  world  if 
she  wants  to;  but  this  idea  of  a  daughter  of  mine  being  a 
missionary !  Let  some  girl  go  to  China  who  does  not  have 
all  these  things."  What  can  be  said  to  a  professing  Christian 
of  this  kind  whose  mind  and  soul  reveals  so  little  sensitiveness 
to  the  great  business  of  Christ?  The  sad  fact  is  that  this 
mother  is  not  alone  either  in  her  selfishness  or  in  her  igno- 
rance of  the  friendship  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  failure  of  many 
very  "good"  church  members  to  get  much  joy  out  of  their 
religion  is  the  result  of  holding  Jesus  at  a  distance  through 
unreadiness  to  sympathize  with  this  world  program.  "Lo,  I 
am  with  you  always"  is  the  assurance  of  the  Great  Friend, 

88 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-7] 

but  the  promise  is  conditioned  upon  our  acceptance  of   the 
Great  Commission. 

Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  the  things  which  I  com- 
mand you.  No  longer  do  I  call  you  servants;  for  the 
servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth:  but  I  have 
called  you  friends;  for  all  things  that  I  heard  from  my 
Father  I  have  made  known  unto  you.  Ye  did  not  choose 
me,  but  I  chose  you,  and  appointed  you,  that  ye  should  go 
and  bear  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit  should  abide:  that 
whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he 
may  give  it  you. — John  15.  14-16. 

Go  ye  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of  all  the  nations, 
baptizing  them  into  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the 
Son  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit:  teaching  them  to  observe 
all  things  whatsoever  I  commanded  you:  and  lo,  I  am  with 
you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. — Matt.  28. 
19,  20. 

MEDITATION 

So  long  as  we  love,  we  serve;  so  long  as  we  are  loved  by- 
others,  I  would  almost  say  that  we  are  indispensable ;  and 
no  man  is  useless  while  he  has  a  friend. — Robert  Louis  Steven- 


"What  care  I  for  robe  or  stole? 
It  is  the  soul,  it  is  the  soul; 
What  for  crown,  or  what  for  crest? 
It  is  the  heart  within  the  breast; 
It  is  the  faith,  it  is  the  hope. 
It  is  the  struggle  up  the  slope; 
It  is  the  brain  and  eye  to  see 
One  God  and  one  humanity." 

— Robert  Loveman. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  renew  our  spirits  and  draw  our  hearts  unto  thy- 
self, that  our  work  may  not  be  to  us  a  burden,  but  a  delight; 
and  give  us  such  a  mighty  love  to  thee  as  may  sweeten  all 
our  obedience.  Oh,  let  us  not  serve  thee  with  the  spirit  of 
bondage  as  slaves,  but  with  the  cheerfulness  and  gladness  of 
children,  delighting  ourselves  in  thee,  and  rejoicing  in  thy 
work.    Amen. — Benjamin  Jenks. 


89 


OUTLINE— FOURTH  WEEK.     STEWARDSHIP 
AND    SERVICE 

1.  Introductory:  God's  Message — Stewardship. 

2.  First  Day:  The  Business  of  Life. 

3.  Second  Day:  Heroic  Service. 

4.  Third  Day:  Right  Relation  to  God. 

5.  Fourth  Day:  Right  Attitude  Toward  Jesus.  ' 

6.  Fifth  Day:  Spiritual  Regeneration. 

7.  Sixth  Day:  Eternal  Duty. 

8.  Seventh  Day :  A  Friendly  Invitation. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  is  the  difference  between  stewardship  and  service? 

b.  Can   there   be   Christian    stewardship    without    sacrifice? 

What  is  sacrifice? 

c.  What  is  the  divine  deposit  in  us  that  cannot  be  touched 

by  catastrophe? 

d.  Should  service  be  sold  for  a  price?    given  for  love?  or 

how  rendered? 

e.  What   is  the   Christian   steward's  idea   of   being   saved? 
/.  Why  do  we  find  the  utmost  reward  when  we  "seek  first 

the  Kingdom"? 

g.  Is  the  lack  of  joy  in  our  work  an  evidence  of  virtue?  of 
maladjustment?  Should  we  work  with  God  for  "the 
fun  of  it"?  for  duty's  sake?  for  profit?  for  self- 
chastisement? 

h.  How  reconcile  the  scriptural  teaching  that  salvation 
is  by  faith  with  Christ's  insistence  upon  faithful 
stewardship? 

t.  What  can  you  give  God? 

2.  a.  What  part  of  life  may  we  omit  from  stewardship,  and 

remain  Christian? 
b.  How  does  a  personal  relation  determine  action,  whether 
we  be  at  peace  or  at  war? 
90 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  SERVICE  [IV-o] 

c.  Isn't  it  morbid  and  objectionable  to   be  always   respon- 
sible for  everybody? 

3.  a.  What  are  the  Christian  opportunities   for  heroism? 

h.  Is  there  any  such  thing  as  an  "easy-going  Christian  life"? 

4.  a.  What    difference    do    motive    and    vision    make    in    the 

results  of  our  work? 
h.  Why  should  the  Christian's  work  be  done  in  a  superior 
manner? 

5.  o.  In  what  ways  may  we  confess  that  we  are  God's  chil- 

dren? 
h.  Does  the  act  of  fighting  in  a  good  cause  automatically 

put  a  man  on  good  terms  with  God  ? 
c.  How    are    love    and    service    related?      May    they    be 

separated? 

6.  a.  What  is  the  personal  transformation  known  as  the  "new 

birth"? 

h.  Among  virtues,  what  rank  would  you  give  to  kindness? 

c.  What  is  the  first  thing  to  do  in  order  to  become  a  Chris- 
tian steward? 

7.  a.  How  may  we  know  the  joy  of  the  Lord,  and  find  in  it 

our  strength? 
h.  Where  lies  our  greatest  pleasure ;  in  duty,  partnership, 
independent  action? 

8.  a.  What  is  the  highest  relation  possible  between  persons? 
h.  Why  do  not  comforts  and  other  "things"  satisfy?    What 

does? 

EXERCISES 

:  I.  Write  out  the  difference  between  stewardship  and  service; 
your  own  opinion  in  your  own  words.  Establish  the 
true  relation  between  stewardship  and  service. 

2.  How  would  you  explain  the  statement  that  "Christ  came 
in  order  to  bring  to  heaven  a  few  saved  souls  is  the 
negation  of  all  true  religion"? 

3.  For  whom  are  we  responsible  and  in  what  measure? 

4.  How  does  the  law  of  use  apply  to  life? 

5.  Consider  various  plans  for  escaping  human  misery,  and 
compare  with  the  plan  of  Jesus  Christ — Capitalism,  Com- 
munism, Christian  Science,  Newer  Thought,  Individual- 

91 


[IV-o]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

ism,  Agnosticism,  Unitarianism,  Mormonism,  Bahaism, 
Pessimism,  Optimism,  Syndicalism,  Socialism,  Autocracy, 
Tyranny,  Democracy,  Bolshevism,  Epicureanism,  Zion- 
ism. 

6.  Make  outline  of  the  argument  of  the  chapter. 


92 


CHAPTER  V 


Pentecost  and  Stewardship 

INTRODUCTORY 

Pentecost  introduces  a  new  and  victorious  chapter  in  the 
story  of  the'  human  stewardship,  God's  sovereign  owner- 
ship, a  great  vision  of  his  unswerving  purpose  to  make  a  new 
world  of  regenerated  man,  an  intense  consciousness  of  a  lofty 
mission  to  be  fellow  workers  with  Christ,  a  deep  abhorrence 
of  sin,  a  burning  sense  of  brotherhood,  a  heavenly  feeling  of 
joyous  comradeship  with  God,  a  high  indifference  to  pain  or 
poverty,  or  persecution,  and  an  inner  assurance  of  power  to 
meet  every  demand  and  to  make  certain  the  final  victory — 
these  were  some  of  the  net  results  of  the  day  of  Pentecost. 

These  results  are  best  seen  in  their  contrasts.  The  man  who 
remarked,  "These  Christians  are  the  most  unromantic  of  peo- 
ple," had  never  read  the  romance  of  the  early  church  as  told 
in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Elliott  E.  Mills,  in  his  splendid 
lines,  has  suggested  both  the  romance  and  the  contrast : 

"O  pale  faced  Theologian,  whose  soft  hands 
And  ink-stained  fingers  never  grasped  the  oar 
Or  swung  the  hammer;  weary  with  your  books, 
How  can  your  slumbering  senses  comprehend 
The  breadth  and  virile  purpose  of  the  men 
Who  bore  their  joyous  tale  through  quickened  lands 
To  the  great  heart  of  Rome;  the  shipwrecked  Paul, 
Wandering  Ulysses-like  to  far-off  isles 
And  barbarous  peoples ;  or  those  peasant  kings, 
Who  ever  'mid  voluptuous  cities  move 
No  mediaeval  halo,  but  the  air 
Of  some  free  fisher  battling  with  the  wind 
That  blows  across  the  Galilaean  hills  ?" 

It  is  evident  that  the  "shipwrecked  Paul,  wandering  Ulysses- 
like to  far-off  isles,"  is  a  different  man  from  the  Saul  who 
went  everywhere  persecuting  the  churches;  nor  is  the  Peter 

93 


[V-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

of  Pentecost  the  same  who  formerly  followed  Jesus  afar  off. 
What  has  happened?  Plainly  this,  that  God  has  come  to  the 
climactic  act  in  his  own  voluntary  stewardship.  From  the 
beginning  all  of  his  divine  resources  had  been  dedicated  to  the 
welfare  of  his  creatures.  His  dominating  passion  had  been 
expressed  in  his  words,  "Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,^  after 
our  likeness."  It  was  an  eternal  undertaking.  God  called 
man  to  share  with  him  this  stewardship.  Then  the  fight 
began.    Robert  Browning  sums  it  up  with: 

"No,  when  the  fight  begins  within  himself, 
A  man's  worth  something :  God  stoops  o'er  his  head, 
Satan  looks  up  between  his  feet — both  tug — 
He's  left,  himself,  i'  the  middle;  the  soul  wakeS' 
And  grows.     Prolong  that  battle  through  his  life !" 

But  man's  stewardship  was  not  only  to  build  manhood 
within  himself,  but  likewise  to  build  it  in  the  great  world  of 
other  men.  A  perfect  world  of  perfect  men  was  God's  goal. 
Slowly  but  surely  through  the  long  centuries,  the  vision  had 
grown  clear.  The  patriarch,  the  prophet  and,  last  of  all, 
Christ  himself  proclaiming  the  program.  The  disciples  saw 
it  vaguely,  but  even  the  little  that  they  understood  brought 
terror  to  their  hearts.  How  could  the  disciples  of  a  crucified 
Lord  conquer  the  world?  Easter  morning  helped  to  clear 
their  minds  and  to  strengthen  their  faith.  But  even  then  that 
walk,  back  from  the  hill,  from  which  their  Lord  had  gone 
from  them  into  the  clouds,  to  that  upper  room  where  they 
were  to  "tarry"  for  future  orders,  was  more  of  a  funeral 
procession  than  the  march  of  soldiers.  What  they  needed  was 
a  still  clearer  conception  of  their  task,  and  especially  some 
heavenly  power  to  energize  them  for  their  great  commission. 
And  Pentecost  was  God's  answer.  They  were  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Henceforth  they  were  imitators  of  God  in  the 
dedication  of  self  and  substance  for  the  regeneration  of  the 
world,  and  in  their  lives  God  reigned  supreme. 

"Holy  Spirit,  all  divine. 
Dwell  within  this  heart  of  mine; 
Cast  down  every  idol-throne. 
Reign  supreme,  and  reign  alone." 


'Not  italic  in  original. 

94 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-i] 

In  just  iL'hat  particulars  the  Holy  Spirit  deepened  the  stew- 
ardship conviction  of  the  disciples  will  be  indicated  in  the 
"Daily  Readings,"  but  we  ought  first  to  raise  an  important 
question:  If  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Spirit  deepened  and  em- 
powered the  sense  of  stewardship  in  the  early  church,  may  it 
not  be  true  that  the  shallowness  of  stewardship  conviction  in 
the  church  of  to-day  is  due  to  the  failure  of  professing  Chris- 
tians to  obey  the  Lord's  commandment  to  "tarry"  and  be  filled 
with  the  Spirit  f  This  seems  to  be  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  J.  H. 
Jowett:  "I  am  deeply  persuaded  that,  judged  experimentally 
by  our  daily  life  and  practice,  much  of  the  mental  attitude 
and  spiritual  pose  of  the  modern  church  is  pre-Pentecostal, 
and  that  in  this  thin  and  immature  relationship  is  to  be 
found  the  secret  of  our  common  weariness  and  impotence." 

It  will  help  to  further  understand  the  condition  of  many  a 
modern  church  and  present-day  disciple,  if  one  will  make  the 
comparison  with  that  ancient  church  of  Ephesus  where  a  small 
membership  was  attempting  to  "carry  on"  without  the  leader- 
ship or  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  was  a  glad  day  when 
the  spiritual  diagnostician  arrived  in  the  person  of  the  apostle 
Paul,  who  promptly  sized  up  the  situation  and  asked,  "Did 
ye  receive  the  Holy  Spirit  when  ye  believed?"  Dr.  Jowett 
further  comments:  "Why  did  he  put  the  anxious  question? 
were  there  some  ominous  signs  of  impoverishment  which 
aroused  this  painful  wonder?  Did  he  miss  something?  .  .  . 
Perhaps  it  was  the  large  care-lines  plowed  so  deeply  upon 
their  faces.  Perhaps  it  was  a  certain  stale  flatness  in  their 
intercourse.  Perhaps  it  was  a  look  of  defeat  in  their  tired 
eyes — the  expression  of  exhausted  reserves,  the  lack  of  exuber- 
ance, the  want  of  a  swinging  and  jubilant  optimism.  Per- 
haps it  was  the  absence  of  the  bird-note  from  their  religious 
life.  I  know  not  what  the  signs  may  have  been,  but  some 
conspicuous  gap  yawned  before  the  apostle's  penetrating  vision, 
which  prompted  him  to  ask  this  trembling,  searching  question, 
'Did  ye  receive  the  Holy  Ghost  when  ye  believed?'  and  the 
half-spirited  and  wearied  souls  replied,  'Nay,  we  did  not  so 
much  as  hear  whether  the  Holy  Ghost  was  given !'  How  im- 
perfect their  equipment !  How  inadequate  their  resources ! 
.  .  The  day  of  Pentecost  had  come;  the  marvelous 
promises  had  been  fulfilled ;  the  wonder-ministry  had  begun ; 
but  these  disciples  were  slill  in  the  pre-Pentecost  days ;  they 
were  behind  the  spiritual  times !" 

95 


[V-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

But  what  of  the  present  hour?  Need  we  go  back  to  the 
Ephesians  for  examples  of  powerless  churches  and  powerless 
disciples  ?  A  few  years  ago  Dr.  Frank  W.  Gunsaulus  wrote : 
"The  most  incongruous,  if  not  ridiculous,  sight  in  this  practical 
world  is  a  fine  machine  standing  in  its  polished  beauty,  but 
lacking  just  the  one  thing  that  gives  it  motive  power  or  even 
permits  motion.  .  .  .  The  instant  and  commanding  thing 
to  be  accomplished  in  the  life  of  Christian  people  to-day — and 
if  I  could  have  my  way,  this  would  be  what  I  would  see 
achieved  in  every  soul — is  the  experienced  presence  of  God 
as  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  Pentecost  which  the  church  needs 
at  once  and  forever." 


DAILY  READINGS 

Fifth  Week— First  Day 

"Into  this  Universe,  and  Why  not  knowing 
Nor  Whence,  like  Water  willy-nilly  flowing: 

And  out  of  it,  as  Wind  along  the  Waste, 
I  know  not  Whither,  willy-nilly  blowing." 

This  fatalism  of  Fitzgerald's  pagan  poet  is  as  far  removed 
from  the  conviction  that  filled  the  hearts  of  the  disciples  at 
Pentecost  as  the  East  is  from  the  West.  The  men  who 
preached  that  day  in  Jerusalem  knew  why  they  were  in  the 
world  and  what  they  had  come  to  do.  In  the  first  place, 
Pentecost  deepened  the  stewardship  conviction  of  the  disciples 
by  bringing  to  their  remembrance  what  Jesus  had  told  them 
concerning  their  mission  and  his  gospel.  During  the  long 
months  the  great  Teacher  had  patiently  worked  with  his 
disciples,  continuously  instructing  them  in  the  face  of  small 
encouragement,  but  confidently  waiting  for  the  coming  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  at  Pentecost,  when  all  the  dormant  seed  which 
he  had  sown  would  come  to  life  and  fruition  under  the  mirac- 
ulous influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  The  confidence  of  Jesus 
that  such  would  be  the  case  is  seen  in  these  words  spoken 
shortly  before  his  death  indicating  the  illuminating  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  minds  of  men. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  while  yet  abid- 
ing with  you.     But  the  Comforter,  even  the  Holy  Spirit, 

96 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-i] 

whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach 
you  all  things,  and  bring  to  your  remembrance  all  that  I 
said  unto  you. — John  14.  25,  26. 

A  vivid  instance  of  the  actual  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
on  the  human  mind  is  found  in  Peter's  report  of  his  experi- 
ence among  the  new  Gentile  converts  at  Caesarea,  bringing  a 
solemn  sense  of  the  fellowship  with  God  in  his  great  mission : 

And  as  I  began  to  speak,  the  Holy  Spirit  fell  on  them, 
even  as  on  us  at  the  beginning.  And  I  remembered  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  how  he  said,  John  indeed  baptized  with 
water;  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  in  the  Holy  Spirit.  If 
then  God  gave  unto  them  the  like  gift  as  he  did  also  imto 
us,  when  we  believed  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was 
I,  that  I  could  withstand  God? — Acts  11.  15-17. 

MEDITATION 

"I  worship  thee,  O  Holy  Ghost, 
I  love  to  worship  thee; 
My  risen  Lord  for  aye  were  lost 
But  for  thy  company. 

"I  worship  thee,  O  Holy  Ghost, 
I  love  to  worship  thee; 
With  thee  each  day  is  Pentecost, 
Each  night   Nativity." 

— William  F.   Warren. 

The  missionary  enterprise  waits  for  the  day  when  the  Holy 
Spirit  shall  pervade  and  dominate  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit  waits  for  the  day  when  the  church  shall  be  will- 
ing.— Robert  E.  Speer. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Thou,  who  hast  promised  that  when  the  enemy  sweeps 
in  like  a  Hood  thou  wilt  lift  the  harrier  of  thy  Spirit  against 
him,  have  mercy  upon  us  and  deliver  us  from  ourselves.  In 
the  hour  of  unusual  weakness  be  thou  our  unusual  strength. 
When  the  consciousness  of  repeated  failure  drives  us  toward 
the  slough  of  discouragement  and  despair,  be  thou  our  hope. 
As  confidence  in  self  decreases,  suffer  us  not  to  he  over- 
whelmed save  by  the  wideness  of  thy  mercy  and  the  promise 

97 


IV-2]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

of  thy  power.  Forgive  us  the  multitude  of  our  transgres- 
sions, but  help  us  that  we  may  not  presume  upon  thy  mercy. 
O  thou  Abounding  Love,  save  us  both  from  lying  defeated 
amidst  our  failures  or  from  presuming  to  shift  to  thy  shoulder 
the  crosses  we  should  bear.  Gird  us  once  more  to  the  battle. 
Give  power  once  again  to  our  broken  swords.  Reneiv  the 
battle  song  within  our  hearts,  hold  steadfastly  before  us  thy 
vision  of  the  heights,  and  give  us  this  day  the  victory,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. 


Pifth  Week— Second  Day 

Pentecost  deepened  the  stewardship  conviction  in  the  disci- 
ples by  fixing  the  consciousness  that  they  were  God's  personal 
agents  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  ancient  purposes  as  first  indi- 
cated by  the  patriarchs  and  prophets.  It  was  a  great  moment 
in  Queen  Esther's  life  when  her  kinsman  flung  the  challenge 
to  her,  "Who  knoweth  whether  thou  art  not  come  to  the  king- 
dom for  such  a  time  as  this?"  Said  a  young  woman  just 
returned  from  a  student  conference,  "Mother,  I  have  realized 
for  the  first  time  in  my  life  that  God  has  something  for  me 
to  do  in  his  kingdom."  It  should  be  noted  again  and  again 
that  there  are  two  reasons  for  the  responsibility  which  the 
disciples  of  Christ  must  feel.  Not  only  is  there  a  heaven- 
given  task  for  each  one  of  us,  but  our  responsibility  is  the 
more  sobering  because  great  souls  in  the  past  have  labored 
Ibefore  us.  There  is  a  fellowship  of  stewardship.  A  "cloud 
of  witnesses"  are  looking  on  to  see  how  we  write  our  chapter 
of  the  story  of  the  working  out  of  the  eternal  program  that 
God  first  gave  to  them.  "This  is  that  which  was  spoken  by 
the  prophet  Joel,"  said  Peter  in  explanation  of  the  happenings 
of  Pentecost.  The  disciples  were  merely  in  the  succession  of 
the  endless  procession  of  the  stewards  of  God.  It  gave  them 
not  only  new  courage  but  a  deepening  feeling  of  responsibility. 
Said  a  small  hero,  "If  I  do  that,  I  cannot  look  my  father  in 
the  face."  We  of  this  generation  not  only  have  to  answer  to 
the  Great  Father,  but  we  have  also  to  look  in  the  face  the 
long  procession  of  God's  heroes  who  have  kept  the  faith. 

But  Peter,  standing  up  with  the  eleven,  lifted  up  his 
voice,   and  spake   forth   unto   them,   saying,   Ye   men   of 

98 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP         [V-2] 

Judaea,  and  all  ye  that  dwell  at  Jerusalem,  be  this  known 
unto  you,  and  give  ear  unto  my  words.  For  these  are  not 
drunken,  as  ye  suppose ;  seeing  it  is  but  the  third  hour  of 
the  day;  but  this  is  that  which  hath  been  spoken  through 
the  prophet  Joel: 

And  it  shall  be  in  the  last  days,  saith  God, 

I  will  pour  forth  of  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh:. 

And  your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy, 

And  your  young  men  shall  see  visons, 

And  your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams: 

Yea  and  on  my  servants  and  on  my  handmaidens  in 
those  days 

Will  I  pour  forth  of  my  Spirit;  and  they  shall  proph- 
esy.    .     .     . 

And  it  shall  be,  that  whosoever  shall  call  on  the  name 
of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved. — Acts  2.  14-18,  21. 

MEDITATION 

I  regard  the  Pentecost  at  Jerusalem  as  the  type  and  proph- 
ecy of  Pentecost  all  through  the  history  of  the  Church  of 
God.  .  .  .  So  in  this  sense  we  are  justified  in  looking  for 
other  Pentecosts  in  history  that  shall  not  only  be  like  the 
first  Pentecost  at  Jerusalem  but  greater  than  that  in  results 
as  that  was  greater  in  results  than  any  work  of  the  Spirit 
that  went  before. — Arthur  T.  Picrson. 

"While  kings  of  eternal  evil 
Yet  darken  the  hills  about, 
Thy  part  is  with  broken  sabre 
To  rise  on  the  last  redoubt; 
To   fear   not   sensible   failure, 
Nor  covet  the  game  at  all, 
But  fighting,  fighting,  fighting, 
Die,  driven  against  the  wall." 

— Louise  Imogen  Guiney. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Thou  in  whose  hand  are  the  hearts  of  thy  creatures,  shed 
abroad  thy  peace  upon  the  world.  By  the  might  of  thy  Holy 
Spirit  quench  the  pride,  and  anger,  and  greediness  which  cause 
man  to  strive  against  man,  and  people  against  people.  Lead 
all  nations  in  the  ways  of  mutual  help  and  good  will,  and 
hasten  the  time  when  the  earth  shall  confess  thee  indeed  for 
its  Saviour  and  King,  and  no  evil  deeds  of  man  shall  defile 

99 


[V-3]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

thy    glorious    creations;    through    Jesus    Christ,    our    Lord. 
Amen. — Bishop  Wilbur  Patterson  Thirkield. 


Fifth  Week— Third  Day 

Robert  Louis  Stevenson  once  declared  that  "No  man  can 
truly  say  that  he  has  made  a  success  of  life  unless  he  has 
written  at  the  top  of  his  journal,  'Enter  God.'"  Certainly  no 
man  can  make  a  success  of  his  stewardship  without  divine 
power,  and  this  is  another  reason  why  Pentecost  is  the  cli- 
mactic expression  of  God's  own  consciousness  of  stewardship. 
Throughout  the  Old  Testament  we  have  seen  the  unwearied 
purpose  of  God  to  reconstruct  a  world  and  regenerate  human- 
kind. We  have  seen  his  patient  attempt  through  long  cen- 
turies to  call  men  to  share  with  him  his  eternal  purpose.  The 
light  has  gradually  dawned  on  the  souls  of  men.  Abraham, 
Moses,  David,  Elijah,  Nehemiah,  Isaiah,  Hosea,  and  hundreds 
of  others  shared  with  him  his  patience  and  his  passion.  In 
the  fullness  of  time  he  sent  his  Son  as  his  supreme  appeal. 
Jesus  lived  and  taught  his  Father's  program ;  the  truest  philos- 
ophy of  life,  that  of  a  loving  stewardship,  blossomed  from 
the  lips  of  the  Nazarene.  He  gathered  around  him  an  inner 
circle  of  disciples  to  whom  he  intrusted  his  philosophy  of 
life  and  the  task  of  working  out  the  program  of  his  Father. 
Then  he  suffered  the  supreme  agony  on  the  cross  while  his 
disappointed  disciples  were  driven,  scattered  to  their  homes, 
to  sit  in  the  ashes  of  their  ruined  hopes.  "We  hoped  he  was 
he  who  should  redeem  Israel,"  they  said.  Then  on  Easter 
morning  came  the  glad  shock  of  surprise.  Christ  was  risen 
and  they  touched  his  hands  and  feet,  looked  into  the  glorified 
face,  and  felt  faith  rekindling  in  their  souls.  Then  they 
received  the  Great  Commission.  They  were  to  be  the  stew- 
ards of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  even  as  he  had  been  chosen  stew- 
ard of  his  Father.  But  how  is  a  mere  handful  of  timid,  power- 
less disciples  to  carry  out  such  a  stupendous  commission  as 
the  reconstruction  of  the  world?  Pentecost  was  the  answer 
they  received. 

As  they  tarried  at  Jerusalem  God  made  it  clear  that  he  did 
not  expect  them  to  work  alone.  The  task  was  his.  They  were 
merely  his  agents.  He  was  to  supply  the  leadership  and  the 
power. 

100 


I 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-3] 

And  he  said  unto  them,  It  is  not  for  you  to  know  times 
or  seasons,  which  the  Father  hath  set  within  his  own 
authority.  But  ye  shall  receive  power,  when  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  come  upon  you:  and  ye  shall  be  my  witnesses 
both  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judaea  and  Samaria,  and 
imto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth. 

.  .  .  And  when  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  now  come, 
they  were  all  together  in  one  place.  And  suddenly  there 
came  from  heaven  a  sound  as  of  the  rushing  of  a  mighty 
wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  house  where  they  were  sitting. 
And  there  appeared  unto  them  tongues  parting  asimder, 
like  as  of  fire;  and  it  sat  upon  each  one  of  them.  And 
they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit.  .  .  . — Acts  i. 
7,  8;  2.  1-4. 

MEDITATION 

"Challenge  thy  people,  Jehovah  of  hosts! 
Speak  as  of  old  at  this  hour: 
Silence  alike  their  complaints  and  their  boasts. 
Challenge  thy  people  with  power. 

"Give  them  a  task  that  will  drain  their  heart's  blood. 
Lead  on  a  wilderness  way; 
Call  them  to  conquest  through  fire  line  and  flood, 
Challenge  thy  people  to-day." 

— Jessie  Brown  Pounds. 

The  supreme  question  of  the  hour  now  upon  the  tongues  of 
tens  of  thousands  of  God's  children  is,  "What  is  the  remedy 
for  the  unbelief,  spiritual  powerlessness,  and  evangelistic  in- 
efficiency of  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  church  of 
our  dear  Lord?"  The  divine  answer  to  that  question  will 
be  found  in  the  fifty-ninth  chapter  of  Isaiah.  When  the 
enemy  shall  come  in  like  a  flood,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall 
lift  up  a  standard  against  him. — William  Phillips  Hall. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God  of  all  power,  who  hath  called  from  death  the  great 
Pastor  of  the  sheep,  our  Lord  Jesus,  comfort  and  defend  the 
Hock  which  he  hath  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the  eternal 
testament;  increase  the  number  of  true  preachers;  mitigate 
and  lighten  the  hearts  of  the  ignorant;  relieve  the  pains  of 
such  as  be  aMicted,  but  especially  of  those  that  suffer  for  the 
testimony  of  the  truth,  by  the  power  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. — John  Knox. 

lOI 


[V-4]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 


Fifth  Week— Fourth  Day 

Pentecost  made  it  clear  that  the  strategy  of  the  Christian 
religion  lay  in  winning  the  individual  to  renounce  sin  as  the 
first  step  to  a  regenerated  life  of  stewardship.  Without  this 
genuine  repentance  all  the  social  provisions  of  the  gospel  must 
fail.     That  great  Englishman  who  lamented  upon  the  death 

of  his  friend,  "I  am  sorry  for  ;  I  do  not  think  he  will 

like  God  very  well,"  reveals  a  keen  understanding  of  what 
it  means  to  "go  to  heaven."  It  is  to  "like"  God  and  his  pro- 
gram, but  one  cannot  do  this  without  hating  all  sin  and  un- 
godliness. The  disciples  began  their  ministry  by  insisting 
that  the  only  way  to  be  a  good  steward  is  to  "repent."  To 
only  such  is  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Says  J.  H. 
Mahood :  "We  need  not  expect  any  great  nation-wide  revival 
until  we  begin  to  preach  more  as  our  fathers  did  concerning 
the  sinfulness  of  the  human  heart,  the  need  of  repentance, 
and  the  absolute  necessity  for  the  new  birth  as  a  condition 
for  entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."        ^ 

Let  all  the  house  of  Israel  therefore  know  assuredly, 
that  God  hath  made  him  both  Lord  and  Christ,  this  Jesus 
whom  ye  crucified.  Now  when  they  heard  this,  they  were 
pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter  and  the  rest 
of  the  apostles.  Brethren,  what  shall  we  do?  And  Peter 
said  unto  them,  Repent  ye,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of 
you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  the  remission  of 
your  sins;  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  For  to  you  is  the  promise,  and  to  your  children, 
and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our 
God  shall  call  unto  him. — Acts  2.  36-39. 

MEDITATION 

If  ever  I  preach  again,  I  will  leave  out  every  bit  of  flourish 
and  preach  nothing  but  present  truth,  hurl  it  at  the  people 
with  all  my  might,  live  at  high  pressure,  and  direct  all  my 
energies  to  the  salvation  of  souls. — Spurgeon. 

"I  bow  my  forehead  to  the  dust, 

I  veil  mine  eyes  for  shame, 
And  urge,  in  trembling  self-distrust, 
A  prayer  without  a  claim. 

102 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-5I 

"I  see  the  wrong  that  'round  me  lies, 
I  feel  the  guilt  within; 
I  hear,  with  groan  and  travail-cries, 
A  world  confess  its  sin. 

"No  offering  of  my  own  I  have, 
Nor  works  my  faith  to  prove ; 
I  can  but  give  the  gifts  he  gave, 
And  plead  his  love  for  love." 

— John  G.  Whittier. 

A  PRAYER 

0  God,  whom  none  can  love  except  they  hate  the  thing 
that  is  evil,  and  who  willedst  by  thy  Son  our  Saviour  to 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity:  Deliver  us  when  we  are  tempted 
to  look  on  sin  without  abhorrence,  and  let  the  virtue  of  his 
passion  come  between  us  and  the  enemy  of  our  souls;  through 
the  same  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. — David  R.  Porter. 


Fifth  Week— Fifth  Day 

Not  only  was  the  stewardship  responsibility  deepened  as  a 
result  of  Pentecost,  but  it  was  also  broadened  in  that  there 
developed  a  new  social  service  consciousness.  "I  do  not  want 
anyone  to  love  my  soul  if  he  will  not  love  me,"  was  the  way 
Professor  Caleb  T.  Winchester  once  expressed  the  impos- 
sibility of  a  ministry  that  was  not  concerned  with. the  everyday 
environment  and  physical  necessities  of  man.  The  Holy 
Spirit  kindled  a  compassion  that  was  big  enough  to  minister 
to  every  human  need,  thus  creating  a  new  and  profound  feel- 
ing of  human  brotherhood.  Isaac  T.  Headland,  after  telling 
the  story  of  how  a  Chinese  court  physician  doctored  a  court 
painter,  who  had  gotten  a  fish  bone  stuck  in  his  throat,  by 
giving  him  some  medicine  to  dissolve  the  bone  (which  was 
subsequently  removed  with  no  difficulty  by  a  pair  of  tweezers 
in  the  hands  of  a  Christian  missionary),  declared,  "No  heathen 
religion  has  ever  produced  a  physician  who  could  perform 
even  as  simple  an  operation  as  that."  It  seems  obvious  that 
it  takes  love  to  stimulate  inventiveness.  While  necessity  may 
be  the  mother  of  invention,  it  takes  love  to  see  the  necessity, 
especially  where  human  welfare  is  the  prime  consideration 
altogether  apart  from  self-interest.     Christianity  has  always 

103 


[V-5]         THE  MESSAGE  QF  STEWARDSHIP 

been  differentiated  from  other  religions  in  furnishing  the  im- 
pulse to  social  betterment.  The  early  church  has  sometimes 
been  unfairly  accused  of  being  "other  worldly,"  but  certain 
it  is  that  in  no  subsequent  age  has  the  church  shown  a  more 
thoroughgoing  power  to  provide  for  the  total  welfare  of  its 
members.  Thus  we  have  the  picture  of  a  church  where  the 
passion  of  stewardship  was  so  strong  that  one  member  would 
be  ready  to  sell  his  possessions  in  order  to  minister  to  the 
common  need. 

And  all  that  believed  were  together,  and  had  all  things 
common;  and  they  sold  their  possessions  and  goods,  and 
parted  them  to  all,  according  as  any  man  had  need.  And 
day  by  day,  continuing  stedfastly  with  one  accord  in  the 
temple,  and  breaking  bread  at  home,  they  took  their  food 
with  gladness  and  singleness  of  heart,  praising  God,  and 
having  favor  with  all  the  people.  And  the  Lord  added  to 
them  day  by  day  those  that  were  saved. — Acts  2.  44-47. 

MEDITATION 

Half  the  world  is  on  the  wrong  scent  in  the  pursuit  of 
happiness.  They  think  it  consists  in  having  and  getting  and 
in  being  served  by  others.  ...  It  consists  in  giving,  and 
in  serving  others.  He  that  would  be  happy,  let  him  remember 
that  there  is  but  one  way — it  is  more  blessed,  it  is  more  happy, 
to  give  than  to  receive. — Henry  Drummond. 

"High  thoughts,  and  noble  in  all  lands, 
Help  me ;  my  soul  is  fed  on  such. 
But  Ah,  the  touch  of  lips  and  hands-- 

The  human  touch !     Warm,  vital,  close,  life's  symbols  dear, 
These  need  I  most,  and  now,  and  here." 

— Richard  Burton. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Thou  who  hast  founded  a  church  for  thyself,  and  hast 
promised  to  dwell  in  it  forever;  enlighten  and  sanctify  it, 
we  beseech  thee,  by  thy  Word  and  Spirit;  endue  all  pastors 
and  ministers  with  thy  grace,  that  they  may  with  joy  and 
assurance  guard  and  feed  thy  sheep,  looking  to  the  great 
Bishop  and  Shepherd  of  souls.  Bless  all  who  serve  thee  in 
the  rule  of  thy  church;  in  the  care  of  thy  poor;  in  the  ministry 
of  thy  praise;  and  in  the  teaching  of  the  young.    Strengthen 

104 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-6] 

them  in  their  labors;  give  them  courage  to  witness  a  good 
confession;  and  cause  thy  church  to  increase  more  and  more, 
that  every  knee  may  how  before  thee,  and  every  tongue  con- 
fess that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord.  Amen. — Bishop  Wilbur  P. 
Thirkield. 


Fifth  Week— Sixth  Day 

P  Conspicuous  among  the  results  of  the  Pentecost  we  must 
point  to  the  assurance  the  disciples  came  to  possess  that  they 
were  more  closely  than  ever  associated  with  their  risen  Lord 
in  his  redemptive  program.  Undoubtedly,  one  secret  of  the 
rapid  growth  of  the  early  church  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact 
that,  though  the  disciples  resisted  so  largely  discussions  over 
questions  that  surrounded  the  mystery  of  their  Lord's  per- 
sonality, they  steadfastly  sought  communion  with  him  through 
the  Holy  Spirit,  who,  indeed,  seemed  to  be  to  them  the  in- 
visible Jesus  himself.  He  had  promised  to  send  the  Com- 
forter to  them,  and  in  a  real  sense  this  new  Presence  was  their 
unseen  but  living  Lord. 

"Speak  to  Him,  thou,  for  he  hears,  and  Spirit  with  spirit  can 
meet — 
Closer   is    He  than   breathing,    and   nearer    than   hands   and 
feet." 

It  was  perfectly  natural  for  Peter,  referring  to  Pentecost 
with  all  its  wonderful  accompaniments,  to  declare  that  "Jesus 
hath  poured  forth  this  which  ye  see  and  hear"  (Acts  2.  2)Z)  ■ 
Moreover,  it  is  perfectly  evident  that  in  the  holy  boldness 
and  miraculous  powers  of  the  disciples  the  people  saw  the 
reflection  of  the  life  of  the  Nazarene. 

This  Jesus  did  God  raise  up,  whereof  we  all  are 
witnesses.  Being  therefore  by  the  right  hand  of  God 
exalted,  and  having  received  of  the  Father  the  promise 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  hath  poured  forth  this,  which  ye 
see  and  hear.  For  David  ascended  not  into  the  heavens: 
but  he  saith  himself, 

The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou  on  my  right  hand. 

Till  I  make  thine  enemies  the  footstool  of  thy  feet. 

Let  all  the  house  of  Israel  therefore  know  assuredly, 

105 


[V-7]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

that  God  hath  made  him  both  Lord  and  Christ,  this  Jesus 
whom  ye  crucified.     .     .     . 

Now  when  they  beheld  the  boldness  of  Peter  and  John, 
and  had  perceived  that  they  were  unlearned  and  ignorant 
men,  they  marveled;  and  they  took  knowedge  of  them, 
that  they  had  been  with  Jesus.     .     .     . 

And  the  disciples  were  filled  with  joy  and  with  the 
Holy  Spirit. — Acts  2.  32-36;  4.  13;  13.  52. 

MEDITATION 

A  Japanese  woman  appeared  at  the  door  of  one  of  our  mis- 
sion schools  and  asked  if  they  took  only  pretty  girls  to  be 
educated.  The  missionary  assured  her  that  they  took  all  who 
came  to  them.  "But,"  said  the  woman,  "all  your  girls  seem 
to  be  pretty."  The  missionary  explained  that  they  were  taught 
soul-culture  and  that  they  were  Christians.  "I  do  not  wish 
my  daughter  to  become  a  Christian,"  said  the  woman,  "but 
I  want  to  send  her  to  your  school  to  get  that  look  in  her  face." 

— /.    W.  Mahood. 

"If  I  covet  one  high  grace, 
It  is  this — upon  my  face 
Just  to  show  an  inner  light 
To  illumine  others'  night. 

"Give  me  such  a  look,  so  high, 
That  the  saddest  passer-by, 
On  a  sudden  glad  shall  say, 
'Somewhere  shines  the  sun  to-day' !" 

— Anna  Burnham  Bryant. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God,  Fountain  of  love,  pour  thy  love  into  our  souls,  that 
we  may  love  those  whom  thou  lovest,  with  the  love  that  thou 
givest  us,  and  think  and  speak  of  them  tenderly,  meekly,  lov- 
ingly; and  so  loving  our  brethren  and  sisters  for  thy  sake, 
may  grow  in  thy  love,  and  dwelling  in  love  may  dwell  in 
thee;  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.    Amen. — E.  B.  Pusey. 


Fifth  Week— Seventh  Day 

Finally  Pentecost  compelled  a  broader  vision  of  steward- 
ship by  bringing  in  the  dispensation  of  the  personal  leader- 
ship of  the  Holy  Spirit.     The  book  of  Acts  of  the  Apostles 

106 


PENTECOST  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [V-7] 

is,  in  fact,  the  Acts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  directing  persons, 
who  are  abandoned,  soul  and  body,  to  his  direction.  Thus 
the  disciples  thought  of  themselves,  not  as  having  a  com- 
mission to  win  the  world  to  Christ,  hut  to  serve  as  surrendered 
channels  through  which  Christ  might  win  the  world  to  him- 
self. Thus  Mark  says  in  his  Gospel,  "And  they  went  forth, 
and  preached  everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with  them,  and 
confirming  the  word  by  the  signs  that  followed"  (Mark  16. 
20).  How  great  was  their  interest  to  have  all  understand 
who  it  was  who  was  working  through  them  is  seen,  more- 
over, in  Peter's  appeal  to  the  populace  after  the  healing  of 
the  cripple  at  the  Temple : 

And  when  Peter  saw  it,  he  answered  unto  the  people, 
Ye  men  of  Israel,  why  marvel  ye  at  this  man?  or  why 
fasten  ye  your  eyes  on  us,  as  though  by  our  own  power 
or  godliness  we  had  made  him  to  walk?  The  God  of 
Abraham,  and  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob,  the  God  of  our 
fathers,  hath  glorified  his  Servant  Jesus;  .  .  .  Acts  3. 
12,  13. 

Throughout  the  entire  book  of  the  Acts  are  to  be  found 
numerous  passages  similar  to  these  that  follow,  indicating 
the  leadership  of  the  Holy  Spirit : 

And  the  Spirit  said  unto  Philip,  Go  near,  and  join  thy- 
self to  this  chariot.    .     .     . 

And  the  Spirit  bade  me  go  with  them,  making  no  dis- 
tinction. And  these  six  brethren  also  accompanied  me; 
and  we  entered  into  the  man's  house:     .     .    . 

And  as  they  ministered  to  the  Lord,  and  fasted,  the 
Holy  Spirit  said.  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul  for  the 
work  whereunto  I  have  called  them.     .     .     . 

And  when  they  were  come  over  against  Mysia,  they 
assayed  to  go  into  Bithynia;  and  the  Spirit  of  Jesus 
suffered  them  not.^Acts  8.  29;  11.  12;  13.  2;  16.  7. 

MEDITATION 

All  experience  comes  to  be  but  more  and  more  of  pressure 
of  his  life  on  ours.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  personal  this  grows 
to  me — he  is  here — and  I  know  him.  It  is  no  figure  of 
speech.  It  is  the  realest  thing  in  the  world  and  every  day 
makes  it  more  real,  and  one  wonders  with  delight  what  it  will 
grow  to  as  the  years  go  on. — Phillips  Brooks. 

107 


[V-7]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

God  is  not  far, 

Some  time,  with  every  one  of  us,  an  evening  star. 

Or  desert's  vast  expanse,  or  sunset's  hush. 

Or,  it  may  be  a  child's  cry  or  maiden's  love-born  blush ; 

Or,  just  as  soon,  impending  battle's  deafening  roar, 

Though  near,  though  far,  throws  wide  the  door 

Where  God  is  found;  and  in  that  great,  strange  hour  of  holy 

fear 
Is   born   that   sweetest  consciousness   of   all — dear    God,   that 

thou  art  near ! 

—R.  S.  C. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God,  who  by  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ  didst  charge  thine 
apostles  to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature;  prosper,  we 
pray  thee,  all  missions  of  thy  church.  Send  forth  laborers 
into  thy  vineyard,  and  bestow  upon  them  all  things  needful 
for  their  work.  Grant  them  wisdom  in  all  difficulties,  help 
in  trouble,  the  sense  of  thy  presence  in  loneliness,  and,  if  it  be 
thy  will,  visible  success  after  labor,  that  thy  holy  name  may 
be  glorified;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour. 
Amen. — Guild  of  Saint  Paul. 


io8 


OUTLINE— FIFTH  WEEK.     PENTECOST  AND 
STEWARDSHIP 

1.  Introductory:  Power  and  Vision. 

2.  First  Day :  Practical  Understanding. 

3.  Second  Day :  Personal  Association  with  God. 

4.  Third  Day :  The  Secret  of  Success. 

5.  Fourth  Day :  Conversion  to  Righteousness. 

6.  Fifth  Day:  Social  Consciousness  Broadened. 

7.  Sixth  Day :  Assurance  that  Jesus  Is  the  Christ. 

8.  Seventh  Day:  Divine  Leadership. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What    difference    does    God's    presence    make    in    your 

life? 

b.  Why  call  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  God's  climactic  act 

in  fulfilling  his  own  stewardship? 

c.  How  much  does  God  care  whether  you  make  the  most 

of  yourself? 

d.  Why  is  it  my  business  to  build  manhood  into  other  men? 

Isn't  it  enough  to  look  after  myself? 

e.  How  does  this  "heavenly  energy-"  differ  from  the  ''dyna- 

mite"   mentioned   at   the    beginning   of    these   studies? 
/.  How  does  God  make  stewardship  possible? 
g.  What  spiritual  reason  can  you  give  for  material  failure 

of  the  church? 

2.  a.  How  is  it  possible  to  have  the  accumulated  material  of 

life  usable? 

b.  What   qualities    make    for   successful    Christian   living — 

faithful  stewardship? 

c.  Does  God  "work  for"  any  who  "waiteth  for  him"? 

d.  Whence  comes  our  weakness?  our  strength?  our  tempta- 

tions? our  inspirations? 

3.  a.  What  is  the  highest  commendation  God  ever  gives  man ; 

by  calling  him  servant,  friend,  son,  etc.? 
109 


[V-o]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

b.  Are  imagination  and  memory  quickened  by  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit? 

4.  a.  Why  is  a  Christian  expected  to  do  the  impossible?     Is 

this  a  reasonable  expectation? 
b.  Are  we  "free  agents,"  or  only  soldiers  "under  orders"? 

5.  a.  Define  sin,  repentance,  heaven.     Can  we  "like"  God,  and 

dislike  people? 
b.  What  is  the  relation  between  individual  sin  and   social 
harmony,  or  heaven? 

6.  a.  Why  is  it  that  "no  nation  rises  any  higher  than  its  reli- 

gion"? 

b.  In   what   ways    do   you   find    Christian    love    expressing 

itself  ? 

c.  What  place  has  mysticism  in  the  Christian  religion? 

7.  a.  How  may  we  know  that  we  are  reconciled  to  God? 

8.  a.  How  does  the  Holy  Spirit  lead? 

b.  What  constitutes  a  call  to  religious  service?     Is  it  con- 
fined to  church  work? 

EXERCISES 

1.  Read  the  record  of  Pentecost  and  note  the  results  indicated 

in  the  lesson. 

2.  Describe  a  perfect  man;  a  perfect  world;  a  perfect  God. 

3.  Criticize  Dr.  Jowett's  statement  concerning  "the  pre-Pente- 

costal"  conditions  of  the  modern  church. 

4.  How  does  the  Holy  Spirit  give  power  to  the  Christian? 

5.  Why  does  God  need  personal  representatives  on  earth? 

6.  Why  do  people  resist  being  "uplifted"  by  those  who  "love 

their  souls"  but  do  not  love  them? 

7.  Gather  proof  that  Christian  love  has  produced  the  mechani- 

cal advancement  of  the  past  one  hundred  years. 

8.  W^hat  are  "consecration,"  "full  surrender,"  "sanctification"? 

How  do  they  differ  from  stewardship? 

9.  Outline  the  leading  thought  in  each  day's  argument. 


CHAPTER  VI 


Stewardship   and  Prayer 

INTRODUCTORY 

Preeminent  among  the  important  results  of  Pentecost  was 
the  new  valuation  which  the  disciples  placed  upon  prayer  as 
a  stewardship.  After  those  tremendous  days  which  preceded 
and  immediately  followed  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
prayer  became  for  the  disciples  not  only  a  privilege  but  a 
necessity.  Praying  was  a  vital  part  of  their  work.  Indeed, 
it  was  preliminary  to  every  other  task.  To  wrestle  in  prayer 
was  as  much  a  part  of  faithful  stewardship  as  proclaiming 
the  message  or  the  spending  of  money  for  the  welfare  of  a 
growing  congregation.     The  poet  has  said : 

"Prayer  is  the  soul's  sincere  desire, 
Uttered  or  unexpressed — 
The  motion  of  a  hidden  fire 
That  trembles  in  the  breast." 

But  Pentecost  taught  those  early  disciples  that  there  could 
be  no  fire  to  tremble  in  the  breast,  nor  the  Kingdom  work  be 
accomplished  in  any  sense,  unless  they  were  faithful  in  their 
ministry  of  prayer.  And  it  is  the  same  to-day.  The  lesson 
of  the  early  church  needs  to  be  learned  by  each  new  genera- 
tion. 

.  An  old  veteran  was  speaking.  He  had  fought  many  a  battle 
for  God  and  with  him  had  won  some  outstanding  victories. 
But  there  was  one  source  of  sorrow,  "As  I  look  back  over 
my  life,"  he  said,  "I  regret  that  I  have  not  spent  more  time 
in  prayer.  I  could  have  accomplished  more  for  the  Kingdom." 
Similar  words  to  these  came  from  another  of  America's  con- 
spicuous ministers  not  very  long  ago :  "If  I  could  live  my  life 
over  again,  there  is  one  thing  I  would  have  different.  I  do 
not  feel  that  I  would  put  any  more  time  into  my  study,  or 

III 


[Vl-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

upon  my  sermons ;  I  would  not  give  more  attention  to  my 
pastoral  labors,  but  I  would  give  infinitely  more  time  to 
prayer.  Here  is  where  I  have  failed."  This  good  man  was 
voicing  the  confession  of  many.  Out  of  careful  observation 
Andrew  Murray  declares,  "If  the  amount  of  true  wrestling 
with  God  in  the  daily  life  of  the  average  Christian  could  be 
disclosed,  the  wonder  might  be,  not  that  he  accomplishes  so 
little,  but  that  God  is  wilHng  to  use  him  at  all." 

It  seems  evident  that  the  most  stupid  heresy  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  has  nothing  to  do  with  theological  controversy. 
Sadly  enough,  it  has  to  do  with  this  more  vital  matter  of 
prayer.  In  so  far  as  the  church  of  to-day  does  not  share  the 
conviction  of  the  early  church  that  prayer  is  the  first  work, 
just  so  far  are  we  in  danger  not  only  of  becoming  practical 
atheists,  but  also  of  blocking  Christ's  program  for  the  evangel- 
ization of  the  world. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  understand  the  mysteries  involved  to 
believe  that  prayer  is  the  first  requisite  in  the  world  conquest. 
Indeed,  there  are  deep  questions,  but  Jesus  did  not  consider 
that  it  was  his  business  to  explain  prayer ;  he  commanded  it. 
He  instructed  his  disciples  to  "tarry  at  Jerusalem."  He  told 
them  that  authority  was  given  unto  him  and  that  he  would 
commit  his  authority  unto  them  as  stewards.  Thus  prayer 
was  to  he  the  yneans  by  which  the  disciple  was  to  release  the 
resources  and  energies  of  God.  Prayer,  therefore,  became  not 
only  a  big  privilege  but  a  trust,  and  it  is  required  in  stewards 
that  they  be  found  faithful. 

Moreover,  Jesus  demonstrated  in  his  daily  life  this  same 
need  of  constant  communion  with  the  Father.  If  Jesus  needed 
to  spend  whole  nights  in  prayer,  how  perilous  is  the  failure 
of  the  disciples  to  pray !  What  does  it  mean  to  us  that  Jesus 
pointed  to  the  field  whitening  to  the  harvest,  and  commanded, 
"Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  He  send 
forth  laborers  into  his  harvest"?  (Matt.  9.  38.)  Is  it  of 
minor  significance  that  Jesus  pointed  out  prayer  as  the  first 
requisite?  Behold  the  whitening  fields!  How  it  should  drive 
us  to  our  knees  to  hear  Jesus  declare  that  the  great  God  waits 
for  human  intercession  before  thrusting  forth  workers  into 
the  field.  Or,  consider  prayer  from  another  angle — is  it  some 
difficult  problem  that  the  best  of  human  ingenuity  and  labor 
fails  to  work  out?  What  a  terrible  responsibility  he  places 
on  our  faithfulness  at  the  mercy  seat  when  he  declares,  "This 

112 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [Vl-i] 

kind  can  come  out  by  nothing,  save  by  prayer"  (Mark  9.  29). 
And  what  does  Paul  mean  when  he  writes,  "I  exhort  first  of 
all  that  supplications,  prayers,  intercession,  be  made"  ?  Surely, 
we  should  know.  One  has  answered,  "When  I  shall  see  Chris- 
tians all  over  the  world  resolved  to  prove  what  shall  be  the 
efficacy  of  prayer  for  the  conversion  of  the  world,  I  shall 
begin  to  think  that  the  millennium  is  at  the  door."  Robert  E. 
Speer  concludes,  "If  fifty  men  of  our  generation  will  enter 
the  Holy  Place  of  prayer  and  become  henceforth  men  whose 
hearts  God  has  touched  with  the  prayer  passion,  the  history 
of  the  church  will  be  changed."  What  does  all  this  mean 
if  not  that  Jesus  taught,  and  Pentecost  illuminated  his  mes- 
sage, that  prayer  is  and  always  has  been  the  greatest  need  of 
the  church  and  of  the  world?  Dr.  Speer  adds :  "Deeper  than 
the  needs  of  men;  deeper  far  than  the  need  for  money;  aye, 
deep  down  at  the  bottom  of  our  spiritless  life,  is  the  need  of 
the  forgotten  prevailing  world  wide  prayer." 

If  prayer  is  the  great  need  of  the  world,  why  is  it  so  difficult 
to  get  men  to  really  pray  ?  This  difficulty  has  been  put  into 
these  lines  by  Archbishop  R.  C.  Trench : 

"Lord,  what  a  change  within  us  one  short  hour 
Spent  in  thy  presence  will  avail  to  make ! 
What  heavy  burdens  from  our  bosoms  take; 
What  parched  grounds  refresh,  as  with  a  shower ! 

"We  kneel,  and  all  around  us  seems  to  lower; 
We  rise,  and  all  the  distant  and  the  near 
Stands  forth  in  sunny  outline,  brave  and  clear. 
We  kneel,  how  weak!    We  rise,  how  full  of  power! 

"Why,  therefore,  should  we  do  ourselves  this  wrong, 
Or  others,  that  we  are  not  always  strong; 
That  we  are  ever  overborne  with  care ; 

And  we  should  ever  weak  or  heartless  be, 
Anxious  or  troubled,  when  we  in  prayer. 

And  joy,  and  strength,  and  courage,  are  with  thee?" 

The  outstanding  sentence  is  the  one  italicized :  "Why,  there- 
fore, should  we  do  ourselves  this  wrong,  or  others,"  that  we 
are  not  faithful  in  our  stewardship  of  prayer?  Many  sincere 
followers  of  Christ  have  shed  tears  over  this  question.  The 
most  obvious  answer  seems  to  be  that  we  have  not  educated 

113 


[VI-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

ourselves  to  think  of  prayer  as  a  stewardship  in  which  it  is 
required  that  we  be  faithful  to  the  end.  Bishop  Hamilton, 
of  Salisbury,  has  splendidly  emphasized  this  conviction,  "No 
man  is  likely  to  do  much  good  at  prayer  who  does  not  begin  by 
looking  upon  it  in  the  light  of  a  work  to  be  prepared  for  and 
persevered  in  with  all  the  earnestness  which  we  bring  to  bear 
upon  the  subjects  which  are  in  our  opinion  most  necessary." 

The  book  of  Acts  furnishes  abundant  evidence  that  this  was 
the  secret  of  the  successful  prayer  life  of  the  early  Christians. 
Not  only  was  prayer  a  blessed  communion  with  their  Lord, 
but  it  was  a  necessary  part  of  the  work  which  they  were  to 
do  in  the  fulfillment  of  the  great  commission.  This  truth  will 
he  made  evident  in  the  "Daily  Readings." 


DAILY  READINGS 

Sixth  Week— First  Day 

The  book  of  the  Acts  records  a  number  of  crises  in  the 
development  of  the  Christian  church.  Perhaps  these  were 
not  always  apparent  to  the  disciples  at  the  moment,  but  the 
student  of  the  Scriptures  can  clearly  recognize  their  character 
from  the  distance.  Perhaps  the  greatest  of  all  these  crucial 
moments  was  that  which  crystallized  into  an  immortal  state- 
ment of  the  attitude  of  the  leaders  toward  prayer.  The  ne- 
cessity of  taking  care  of  the  members  of  a  rapidly  growing 
church  was  threatening  the  very  life  of  the  Kingdom.  Numer- 
ous matters  of  administration  were  developing.  Naturally, 
families  must  be  taken  care  of.  A  great  peril  arose  that  was 
all  the  greater  because  it  was  unseen.  The  leaders  of  the 
church  were  in  danger  of  being  smothered  in  the  wheels 
of  the  machinery,  and  the  church  itself  was  in  danger  of  start- 
ing on  the  road  where  the  major  emphasis  is  placed  upon 
organization,  to  the  neglect  of  the  spiritual  resources.  We 
can  well  wish  that  the  leaders  of  the  church  in  all  genera- 
tions could  have  seen  as  clearly  as  did  those  early  leaders  who 
took  their  stand  upon  the  primacy  of  the  stewardship  of 
prayer.  Accordingly,  they  refused  to  be  taken  from  that 
secret  place  where  God's  voice  is  heard,  and  where  God's 
resources  are  made  available.  They  said,  "Look  ye  out  .  .  . 
seven  men,     .    .    .     whom  we  may  appoint  over  this  business. 

114 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-i] 

But  we  will  continue  stedfastly  in  prayer,  and  in  the  ministry 
of  the  word." 

Now  in  these  days,  when  the  number  of  the  disciples 
was  multiplying,  there  arose  a  murmuring  of  the  Grecian 
Jews  against  the  Hebrews,  because  their  widows  were 
neglected  in  the  daily  ministration.  And  the  twelve 
called  the  multitude  of  the  disciples  imto  them,  and  said. 
It  is  not  fit  that  we  should  forsake  the  word  of  God,  and 
serve  tables.  Look  ye  out  therefore,  brethren,  from 
among  you  seven  men  of  good  report,  full  of  the  Spirit 
and  of  wisdom,  whom  we  may  appoint  over  this  business. 
But  we  will  continue  stedfastly  in  prayer,  and  in  the 
ministry  of  the  word. — Acts  6.  1-4. 


MEDITATION 

Of  far  greater  service  than  any  array  of  learning  or  gifts 
of  eloquence,  more  to  be  desired  than  gold  and  fine  raiment, 
more  to  be  sought  than  a  great  name,  or  apparent  opportuni- 
ties for  large  usefulness,  of  deeper  significance  than  high 
intellectual  attainment,  or  power  of  popular  influence,  is  this 
gift — may  God  give  it  to  each  of  us  ! — the  secret  and  sweet- 
ness of  unceasing,  prevailing,  triumphant  prayer  for  the  king- 
dom of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — Robert  E.  Speer. 

"To  stretch  my  hand  and  touch  him, 
■  Though  he  be  far  away ; 
To  raise  my  eyes  and  see  liim 

Through  darkness  as  through  day; 
To  hft  my  voice  and  call  him — 
This  is  to  pray! 

"To  feel  a  hand  extended 

By  One  who  standeth  near; 
To   view   the  love   that   shineth 

In  eyes  serene  and  clear ; 
To  know  that  he  is  calling — 
This  is  to  hear !" 

— Samuel  W.  Dufficld. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  my  God,  what  is  thy  will  for  me  to-day?  What 
task  hast  thou  for  mef     What  opportunity  hast  thou  placed 

115 


[VI-2]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

in  my  way?  Open  mine  eyes  that  I  may  discover  thy  will! 
Save  me  frotn  wasting  the  new  day!  May  I  turn  it  into 
eternal  profit!     Amen. — J.  H.  Jowett. 


Sixth  Week— Second  Day 

In  Revelation  is  given  a  remarkably  vivid,  though  figura- 
tive, portrayal  of  Heaven's  response  to  the  faithful  steward- 
ship of  prayer  on  earth.  The  petitions  of  earth  are  pictured 
as  sacredly  preserved  in  the  form  of  incense  in  the  prayer 
vials  of  heaven.  Moreover,  the  "incense"  of  the  prayers  of 
the  heavenly  inhabitants  is  also  added,  and  when  the 
"vials"  become  filled  they  are  poured  out  before  the  throne  of 
God  with  the  result  that  fire  is  cast  upon  the  earth  as  the 
signal  of  answered  prayer.  These  passages  in  Revelation  are 
worthy  of  prolonged  study.  Professor  John  Alfred  Faulkner, 
of  Drew  Seminary,  has  preserved  for  us  a  private  memoran- 
dum made  by  a  missionary  pastor  on  whom  this  picture  of 
the  prayer  vials  in  heaven  had  made  a  wonderful  impression. 
The  memorandum  is  a  remarkable  story  of  answered  prayers. 
The  following  is  only  one  of  the  paragraphs :  "I  became 
pastor  of  a  church,  and  started  to  get  something  in  the  prayer 
vials.  It  was  a  broken-down  church,  for  it  had  never  been 
broken  up.  There  were  ten  godly  women,  but  they  were 
reviled,  and  the  church  was  a  by-word.  We  gave  one  eve- 
ning each  week  to  nothing  but  prayer,  and  no  limit  as  to  time. 
God  saw  the  measure'  which  he  required,  and  when  the  vials 
of  prayer  were  full  he  poured  them  out.  We  did  not  have 
altar  services  because  the  whole  place  was  an  altar.  There 
were  'voices'  on  every  hand ;  there  was  the  pouring  down  of 
God's  convincing  Spirit.  The  whole  community  was  turned 
upside  down,  which  meant  right  side  up,  and  I  had  the  joy 
of  receiving  many  into  the  assembly.  Those  tall,  strong  men 
were  gloriously  transformed  by  the  same  graces,  by  the  revela- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ.  The  same  thing  happened  in  the  other 
church  which  I  served  before  going  to  Africa." 

And  when  he  had  taken  the  book,  the  four  living 
creatures  and  the  four  and  twenty  elders  fell  down  before 
the  Lamb,  having  each  one  a  harp,  and  golden  bowls  full 
of  incense,  which  are  the  prayers  of  the  saints.    .    .    . 

After  these  things  I  saw,  and  behold,  a  great  multitude, 
ii6 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-2] 

which  no  man  could  number,  out  of  every  nation  and  o£ 
all  tribes  and  peoples  and  tongues,  standing  before  the 
throne  and  before  the  Lamb,  arrayed  in  white  robes,  and 
palms  in  their  hands;     .    .     . 

And  when  he  opened  the  seventh  seal,  there  followed  a 
silence  in  heaven  about  the  space  of  half  an  hour.    .    .    . 

And  another  angel  came  and  stood  over  the  altar,  hav- 
ing a  golden  censer;  and  there  was  given  unto  him  much 
incense,  that  he  should  add  it  unto  the  prayers  of  all  the 
saints  upon  the  golden  altar  which  was  before  the  throne. 
And  the  smoke  of  the  incense,  with  the  prayers  of  the 
saints,  went  up  before  God  out  of  the  angel's  hand.  And 
the  angel  taketh  the  censer;  and  he  filled  it  with  the 
fire  of  the  altar,  and  cast  it  upon  the  earth :  and  there  fol- 
lowed thimders,  and  voices,  and  lightnings,  and  an  earth> 
quake.— Rev.  5-  8;  7.  9;  8-  i.  3»  4,  5- 


MEDITATION 

One  day  in  Portuguese  West  Africa  in  1914  I  was  stand- 
ing by  the  river  and  remembering  those  near  and  dear  to  me 
back  home  (some  of  whom  had  not  as  yet  received  Christ). 
It  became  an  agony  to  me.  "Lord  Jesus,  does  distance  make 
any  difference  in  the  measuring  of  thy  promise?"  I  took  off 
my  helmet  and  looked  across  the  Atlantic  and  said  to  the 
mountains  which  blocked  the  minds  of  my  loved  ones  from 
Christ,  "Be  thou  removed  and  cast  into  the  depths  of  the 
sea,"  and  prayed  in  the  name  of  Jesus  that  he  would  send 
his  convincing  Word  in  power  into  the  hearts  of  my  beloved 
brothers  and  sisters.  A  few  weeks  later  I  got  a  wonderful 
letter  from  my  eldest  brother,  a  keen  business  man,  who  had 
graduated  from  Christianity  into  Christian  Science  and  then 
into  agnosticism,  telling  me  that  he  and  his  wife  and  children 
had  been  brought  to  Jesus.  To-day  he  is  an  earnest  Christian 
man  influencing  many  for  good.  A  few  weeks  later  I  received 
letters  from  two  other  brothers  telling  how  they  and  their 
wnves  and  children  had  knelt  together  at  the  altar  and  given 
themselves  to  Christ.  Then  I  received  news  that  my  next 
younger  brother  had  begun  preaching  the  gospel,  and  found 
him  a  strong,  earnest,  spiritual  preacher,  winning  souls.  My 
sister  and  her  youngest  son  had  also  given  their  hearts  to  the 
Master. — From  a  Missionary's  Memorandum  as  reported  by 
Professor  John  Alfred  Faulkner. 

117 


[VI-3]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Stir  me,  oh !  stir  me,  Lord,  I  care  not  how, 

But  stir  my  heart  in  passion  for  the  world! 
Stir  me  to  give,  to  go — but  most  to  pray: 

Stir,  'till  the  blood  red  banner  be  unfurled 
O'er  lands  that  still  in  deepest  darkness  lie, 
O'er  deserts  where  no  cross  is  Hfted  high." 

— Unknown. 

A  PRAYER 

Blessed  Christ,  thou  who  didst  promise  that  thy  disciples 
might  remove  mountains,  increase  our  faith;  and  hold  us  by 
thy  mighty  hand  until  doubts  shall  cease,  and  we  believe.  Teach 
us  to  tarry  in  thy  presence  until  conquered  by  thy  Spirit  we 
too  go  forth  to  triumph  in  thy  holy  name.    Amen. 


Sixth  Week--Third  Day 

Dr.  Lyman  Abbott  once  said,  "It  is  the  minister's  business 
to  keep  his  people  up  to  concert  pitch."  Indeed,  here  is 
indicated  an  obligation  not  only  upon  the  minister  but  upon 
every  Christian  steward  to  keep  himself  fit  to  conduct  his 
Master's  business.  And  only  regular  communion  with  God 
can  insure  this  preparedness.  Herein  is  one  of  the  reasons 
why  Jesus  taught  prayer  as  a  stewardship,  not  to  be  engaged 
in  as  a  summer  pastime,  or  with  occasional  spasms  of  desire, 
but  as  a  continuous  desperate  measure  necessary  to  the  spir- 
itual health  of  his  disciple.  "Prayer  is  the  Christian's  vital 
breath,"  and  certainly  it  is  a  sweet  and  joyous  communion 
but  it  is  vastly  more;  it  is  a  communion  that  imparts  a  pur- 
pose and  a  strengthening.  The  psalmist  said :  "The  Lord  is 
my  refuge,"  but  he  added,  "and  my  strength."  The  early 
Christians  appreciated  the  comfort  of  communion  and  could 
have  sung  with  us  of  to-day, 

"There  Is  a  place  where  Jesus  sheds 
The  oil  of  gladness  on  our  heads; 
A  place  than  all  besides  more  sweet: 
It  is  the  blood-bought  mercy   seat." 

But  a  study  of  the  New  Testament  indicates  that  in  the  center 
of  their  communion  was  always  to  be  found  the  passion  of  the 
great  commission.     Note  in   the  scripture   that   follows  how 

ii8 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-3J 

these  disciples  who  had  been  persecuted  by  the  high  Jewish 
court  and  then  released  with  threatenings,  are  praying,  not 
for  personal  protection  or  heavenly  raptures,  but  to  be 
equipped  with  new  boldness  in  order  faithfully  to  serve  as 
witnesses  in  the  face  of  the  growing  opposition.  The  disciples 
sought  spiritual  health,  but  primarily  for  the  consummation  of 
their  stewardship. 

And  being  let  go,  they  came  to  their  own  company,  and 
reported  all  that  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  had  said 
unto  them.  And  they,  when  they  heard  it,  lifted  up  their 
voices  to  God  with  one  accord,  and  said,  O  Lord,  thou 
that  didst  make  the  heaven  and  the  earth  and  the  sea,  and 
all  that  in  them  is :  who,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  the  mouth 
of  our  father  David  thy  servant,  didst  say. 

Why  did  the  Gentiles  rage. 

And  the  peoples  imagine  vain  things? 

The  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves  in  array. 

And  the  rulers  were  gathered  together. 

Against  the  Lord,  and  against  his  Anointed: 
for  of  a  truth  in  this  city  against  thy  holy  Servant  Jesus^ 
whom  thou  didst  anoint,  both  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate, 
with  the  Gentiles  and  the  peoples  of  Israel,  were  gathered 
together,  to  do  whatsoever  thy  hand  and  thy  coimsel  fore- 
ordained to  come  to  pass.  And  now.  Lord,  look  upon 
their  threatenings:  and  grant  unto  thy  servants  to  speak 
thy  word  with  all  boldness,  while  thou  stretchest  forth 
thy  hand  to  heal;  and  that  signs  and  wonders  may  be 
done  through  the  name  of  thy  holy  Servant  Jesus.  And 
when  they  had  prayed,  the  place  was  shaken  wherein 
they  were  gathered  together;  and  they  were  all  filled  with 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  they  spake  the  word  of  God  with 
boldness. — Acts  4.  23-31. 

MEDITATION 

It  has  pleased  the  Lord  to  teach  me  a  truth,  the  benefit  of 
which  I  have  not  lost,  for  more  than  fourteen  years.  The 
point  is  this :  I  saw  more  clearly  than  ever  that  the  first 
great  and  primary  business  to  which  I  ought  to  attend  every 
day  was  to  have  my  soul  happy  in  the  Lord.  The  first  thing 
to  be  concerned  about  was  not  how  much  I  might  sefve  the 
Lord,  or  how  I  might  glorify  the  Lord,  but  how  I  might  get 
my  soul  into  a  happy  state,  and  how  my  inner  man  might  be 
nourished.     For  I  might  seek  to  set  the  truth  before  the  un- 

119 


[VI-4]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

converted,  I  might  seek  to  benefit  believers,  I  might  seek  to 
reheve  the  distressed,  I  might  in  other  ways  seek  to  behave 
myself  as  it  becomes  a  child  of  God  in  this  world,  and  yet, 
not  being  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  not  being  nourished  and 
strengthened  in  my  inner  man  day  by  day,  all  this  might  not 
be  attended  to  in  a  right  spirit. — Testimony  of  George  Muller. 

Of  all  the  colors  I  love  to  see. 

The  one  that  stirs  to  the  soul  of  me 

Is  the  golden  green  of  the  maple  tree. 

When  the  morning  sun  looks  over  the  hill 

And  moves  the  leaves  with  a  heavenly  thrill, 

Until  transfigured,  there  it  stands, 

A  holy  thing  with   uplifted   hands, 

And  upturned  face  so  divinely  fair 

That  I  know  in  my  heart  that  God  is  there. 

And  I  join  with  the  trees  in  their  morning  prayer. 

—R.  S.  C. 

A  PRAYER 

Most  gracious  God,  to  know  and  love  whose  will  is  righteous- 
ness, enlighten  our  souls  with  the  brightness  of  thy  presence, 
that  we  may  both  know  thy  will  and  be  enabled  to  perform  it; 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. — Roman  Breviary, 
1099  A.  D. 


Sixth  Week— Fourth  Day 

Another  reason  why  prayer  is  a  stewardship  is  to  be  found 
in  the  fact  that  intercession  unlocks  the  door  to  success  in 
every  aspect  of  stewardship ;  the  reason  being  that  faithful 
prayer  is  a  condition  to  the  reception  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
apart  from  his  help  little  or  nothing  can  be  accomplished  for 
the  Kingdom.  For  example,  there  is  nothing  on  earth  much 
sublimer  than  Christian  motherhood,  but  how  dependent  is 
the  stewardship  of  motherhood  on  prayer !  A  mother  with 
a  large  family  in  a  small  house  was  in  the  habit  of  declaring 
that  she  would  "give  up"  if  it  were  not  for  the  bolt  on  the 
inside  of  the  attic  storeroom  door.  She  had  bought  that  bolt 
and  she  herself  had  put  it  on — unknown  to  anyone.  In  among 
the  scrap-bags,  hanging  from  the  rafters,  and  the  heaps  of 
trunks  and  boxes,  that  one  soul,  pressing  its  way  heavenward, 

120 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-4] 

found  its  Bethel.  Most  of  the  praying  of  that  devoted  mother 
had  to  be  done  afoot,  or  in  an  ejaculatory  manner,  but  now 
and  then  she  could  retire  to  that  attic  room,  bolt  the  world 
out,  and  kneel  at  the  Master's  feet.  Out  from  that  attic  room 
the  mother  would  come,  wisting  not  that  her  face  shone,  with 
a  new  hope  in  her  heart,  and  a  fresh  courage  for  living  and 
hoping  and  loving,  sacrificing  and  serving. 

Of  course  the  secret  was  that  the  mother  each  day  received 
in  that  still  attic  room  a  fresh  anointing  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Beyond  any  question  the  fundamental  reason  for  the  faith- 
fulness of  the  disciples  in  their  ministry  of  prayer  came  out 
of  their  discovery  at  Pentecost  that  the  presence  and  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  secured  only  through  faithful  inter- 
cession. All  this  is  one  explanation  of  that  startling  truth, 
*'You  can  do  more  than  pray  after  you  have  prayed,  but  you 
cannot  do  more  than  pray  until  you  have  prayed." 

If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
mito  your  children,  how  much  more  shall  your  heavenly 
Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him?  .  .  . 
Now  when  the  apostles  that  were  at  Jerusalem  heard 
that  Samaria  had  received  the  word  of  God,  they  sent 
unto  them  Peter  and  John:  who,  when  they  were  come 
down,  prayed  for  them,  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy 
Spirit:  for  as  yet  it  was  fallen  upon  none  of  them:  only 
they  had  been  baptized  into  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
Then  laid  they  their  hands  on  them,  and  they  received  the 
Holy  Spirit. — Luke   11.   13;  Acts  8.   14-17. 


MEDITATION 

If  thou,  then,  wouldst  have  thy  soul  surcharged  with  the 
fire  of  God,  so  that  those  who  come  nigh  to  thee  shall  feel 
some  mysterious  influence  proceeding  from  thee,  thou  must 
draw  nigh  to  the  source  of  that  fire,  to  the  throne  of  God 
and  of  the  Lamb,  and  shut  thyself  out  from  the  world — 
that  cold  world,  which  so  swiftly  steals  our  fire  away.  Enter 
into  the  closet  and  shut  thy  door,  and  there,  isolated,  "before 
the  throne,"  await  the  baptism;  then  the  fire  shall  fill  thee, 
and  when  thou  comest  forth,  holy  power  will  attend  thee,  and 
thou  shalt  labor,  not  in  thine  own  strength,  but  "with  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit  and  with  power." — William  Arthur. 

121 


[VI-5]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Lord,  speak  to  me,  that  I  may  speak 
In  living  echoes  of  thy  tone; 
As  thou  hast  sought,  so  let  me  seek 
Thy  erring  children,  lost  and  lone. 

"O  strengthen  me,  that  while  I  stand 
Firm  on  the  rock,  and  strong  in  thee, 
I  may  stretch  out  a  loving  hand 
To  wrestlers  with  the  troubled  sea. 

"O  use  me.  Lord,  use  even  me 

Just  as  thou  wilt,  and  when,  and  where, 
Until  thy  blessed  face  I  see. 

Thy  rest,  thy  joy,  thy  glory  share." 

— Frances  Ridley  Havergal. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  who  hast  nercy  upon  all,  take  away  from  me  my 
sins,  and  mercifully  kindle  in  me  the  fire  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Take  away  from  me  the  heart  of  stone,  and  give  me  a  heart 
of  Hesh,  a  heart  to  love  and  adore  thee,  a  heart  to  delight  in 
thee,  to  follow  and  to  enjoy  thee,  for  Christ's  sake.    Amen. 

— Ambrose. 

Sixth  Week— Fifth  Day 

It  has  been  indicated  that  Pentecost  brought  to  remembrance 
and  confirmed  the  teachings  of  Jesus  concerning  prayer  as  a 
first  necessity  in  the  servant  of  God.  It  is  probable  that  public 
opinion  would  reflect  in  a  general  way  this  conviction  without 
seeing  very  deeply  the  implication  involved.  For  instance, 
what  else  is  back  of  this  conversation  which  was  overheard 
between  two  business  men? 

"That  was  a  great  talk  Dr.  G gave  us  last   night." 

"He's  a  great  mixer,  isn't  he?  Whenever  I  hear  him  tell 
stories  to  a  crowd  of  men,  do  you  know  that  I  am  rather 
proud  that  he  is  my  minister?" 

"And  he  is  no  middle-class  preacher  either." 
"But  say,  John,   I've  wondered   sometimes  if   a  man  were 
dying  and  wanted  someone  to  pray  with  him,   do  you  think 

Dr.  G would  be  the  first  man  he'd  think  of?    It  seems 

to  me  I'd  rather  send  for  old  Deacon  Brown.    He  isn't  much 
of  a  mixer,  but  I  think  he  might  have  a  bigger  pull  with  the 

122 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-5] 

Almighty.     He  is  more  like  what  my  mother  used  to  call  'a 
man  of  God.' " 

Is  it  not  true  that  underneath  this  somewhat  irreverently 
stated  opinion  that  a  Christian,  or  at  least  the  "minister," 
ought  to  be  a  man  of  prayer,  there  is  the  general  convic- 
tion that  the  man  of  prayer  can  somehow  release  the  divine 
resources  of  the  heavenly  Father?  Indeed,  this  is  what  Jesus 
teaches  in  the  remarkable  Scripture  story  in  to-day's  study. 
There  is  the  great  harvest  field  waiting  for  laborers,  and 
Jesus  says  to  his  disciples,  "Pray  ye,  therefore,  the  Lord  of 
the  harvest,  that  he  will  send  forth  laborers."  Why  should 
God  wait  for  the  prayers  of  his  disciples  before  sending 
workers  into  his  long  waiting  fields?  Jesus  seems  to  teach 
that  having  appointed  man  as  his  responsible  agent,  the  Su- 
preme Person  of  the  Kingdom  will  not  go  over  his  steward's 
head  in  working  out  the  moral  and  spiritual  salvation  of  the 
world.  In  his  great  wisdom  he  has  seen  that  the  surest  way 
to  build  up  manhood  in  his  own  "image"  is  to  make  the  re- 
lease of  his  divine  powers  largely  subject  to  the  intercession 
of  his  fellow  workers.  A  parallel  may  be  found  in  the  stew- 
ardship of  money.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  gold  is  a 
great  factor  in  the  saving  of  the  world.  But  God  has  said, 
"The  gold  and  silver  is  mine."  Then  why  does  he  not  mi- 
raculously turn  mountains  into  money  in  the  face  of  terrible 
needs?  The  answer  is  perfectly  clear:  He  has  placed  all  his 
material  resources  in  the  hands  of  his  human  stewards,  and 
only  as  these  are  faithful  can  God  release  his  own  gold  and 
silver  for  the  building  of  his  Kingdom.  Is  it  diificult,  there- 
fore, to  think  that  his  spiritual  resources  are  subject  to  the 
same  general  law?  The  Holy  Spirit  seems  to  be  limited  in  his 
operation  according  as  men  are  faithful  or  unfaithful  in  their 
stewardship  of  prayer.  Is  not  this  the  reason  that  Jesus  showed 
less  concern  about  teaching  men  how  to  preach  than  teaching 
them  how  to  pray? 

And  Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities  and  the  villages, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  disease  and  all 
manner  of  sickness.  But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes, 
he  was  moved  with  compassion  for  them,  because  they 
were  distressed  and  scattered,  as  sheep  not  having  a 
shepherd.  Then  saith  he  unto  his  disciples,  The  harvest 
indeed  is  plenteous,  but  the  laborers  are  few.     Pray  ye 

123 


[VI-6]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

therefore  the   Lord  of  the  harvest,   that  he   send  forth 
laborers  into  his  harvest. — Matt.  9.  35-38. 

MEDITATION 

It  is  worth  while  making  any  efforts,  however  desperate, 
to  learn  to  pray.  .  .  .  Often  when  I  desire  to  see  the  Truth 
come  home  to  any  man,  I  say  to  myself,  "If  I  have  him  here, 
he  will  spend  half  an  hour  with  rae.  Instead,  I  will  spend 
that  half  hour  in  prayer  for  him." — Forbes  Robinson. 

"More  things  are  wrought  by  prayer 
Than  this  world  dreams  of.    Wherefore  let  thy  voice 
Rise  like  a   fountain   for  me  night  and  day. 
For  what  are  men  better  than  sheep  or  goats 
That  nourish  a  blind  life  within  the  brain, 
If,  knowing  God,  they  lift  not  hands  of  prayer 
Both  for  themselves  and  those  that  call  them  friend? 
Bound  by  gold  chains  about  the  feet  of  God." 

— Alfred  Tennyson. 

A  PRAYER 

Almighty  God,  who  hast  chosen  us  to  share  with  thee  in  the 
distribution  of  thy  bounties,  we  cry  unto  thee.  Without  thy 
help  we  can  do  nothing;  w^ithout  thy  Holy  Spirit  we  must 
betray  thy  trust.  Most  Holy  God  keep  us,  we  pray  thee, 
faithful  in  our  stewardship  this  day;  and,  forgiving  us  our 
sins,  strengthen  our  purpose  to  transact  all  thy  business  solely 
to  thy  glory,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen. 


Sixth  Week— Sixth  Day 

Prayer,  as  the  acknowledgment  of  the  human  stewardship 
of  God's  spiritual  resources,  is  emphasized  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment as  well  as  the  New.  All  of  the  prophets  were  evidently 
given  some  realization  that  they  were  mediators  of  divine 
blessings  between  the  people  and  the  Almighty.  As  far  back 
as  Abraham  this  responsibility  was  appreciated.  David  was  a 
great  intercessor;  so  were  Elijah,  Hezekiah,  and  many  others. 
The  great  statesman,  Samuel,  is  a  conspicuous  example  of 
one  who  felt  the  obHgation  of  prayer.  In  that  critical  hour 
in  the  history  of  the  Israelitish  kingdom,  when  by  the  choice 
of  the  people  themselves  he  has  been  retired  as  their  leader 

124 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-6] 

in  favor  of  the  new  King  Saul,  Samuel  remains  faithful  to  the 
nation  and  his  people,  declaring,  "God  forbid  that  I  should 
sin  against  the  Lord  in  ceasing  to  pray  for  you." 

In  the  Scripture  for  to-day  there  is  another  outstanding 
illustration  of  the  stewardship  of  prayer.  In  describing  this 
scene  Dr.  William  E.  Doughty  says :  "A  fierce  battle  is  at 
its  crisis.  Far-reaching  issues  hung  on  the  way  the  battle 
went.  Intercession  was  the  pivot  on  which  the  victory  turned. 
Joshua  was  leading  the  battle  on  the  plain ;  Moses  and  Aaron 
and  Hur,  the  intercessors,  were  in  the  thick  of  the  battle  on 
the  hill  alone  with  God.  While  intercession  continued,  victory 
was  assured.  When  it  ceased,  the  tide  turned  to  defeat.  Given 
a  Joshua  to  lead  the  battle,  a  Moses  and  his  helpers  in  inter- 
cession, and  no  Amalek  can  prevail.  If  in  our  day  the  church 
would  realize  the  significance  of  that  scene  on  the  hill  as  the 
decisive  factor  in  the  conflict  on  the  plain,  the  shout  of  victory 
would  reverberate  everywhere  among  the  hosts  of  God." 

Then  came  Amalek,  and  fought  with  Israel  in  Rephi- 
dim.  And  Moses  said  unto  Joshua,  Choose  us  out  men, 
and  go  out,  fight  with  Amalek:  to-morrow  I  will  stand 
on  the  top  of  the  hill  with  the  rod  of  God  in  my  hand. 
So  Joshua  did  as  Moses  had  said  to  him,  and  fought  with 
Amalek:  and  Moses,  Aaron,  and  Hur  went  up  to  the  top 
of  the  hill.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  held  up  his 
hand,  that  Israel  prevailed;  and  when  he  let  down  his 
hand,  Amalek  prevailed.  But  Moses'  hands  were  heavy; 
and  they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it  under  him,  and  he  sat 
thereon;  and  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  his  hands,  the 
one  on  the  one  side,  and  the  other  on  the  other  side;  and 
his  hands  were  steady  until  the  going  down  of  the  sun. 
And  Joshua  discomfited  Amalek  and  his  people  with  the 
edge  of  the  sword.  And  Jehovah  said  unto  Moses,  Write 
this  for  a  memorial  in  a  book.     .    .     . — Exodus  17-  8-14. 

MEDITATION 

Is  intercession  with  a  travail,  or  is  it  a  playtime,  a  recrea- 
tion, the  least  exacting  of  all  things,  an  exercise  in  which  there 
is  neither  labor  nor  blood?  "The  blood  is  the  life."  Bloodless 
intercession  is  dead.  It  is  only  the  man  whose  prayer  is  a 
vital    expenditure,    a    sacrifice    which    holds    fellowship    with 

125 


[VI-7]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Calvary,  and  "fills  up  that  which  is  behind  in  the  sufferings  of 
Christ." — J.  H.  Jowett. 

"More  than  half  beaten,  but  fearless, 

Facing  the  storm  and  the  night ; 
Breathless  and  reeling,  but  tearless 

Here  in  the  lull  of  the  fight, 
I  who  bow  not  but  before  thee, 

God  the  fighting  clan. 
Lifting  my  fists   I   implore  thee. 

Give  me  the  heart  of  a  man !"     — Unknown. 

A  PRAYER 

0  God,  the  might  of  all  them  that  put  their  trust  in  thee, 
grant  that  we  may  he  more  than  conquerors  over  all  that  make 
war  upon  our  souls,  and  in  the  end  may  enter  into  perfect 
peace  in  thy  presence;  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen. 

— Roman  Breviary. 

Sixth  Week — Seventh  Day 

"I  have  come,"  said  Donald  Hankey,  before  he  died,  "to 
see  through  the  eyes  of  God."  So  had  Bishop  James  W. 
Bashford,  of  China,  when  faced  with  the  humanly  impossible 
tasks  in  that  great  mission  field.  In  describing  the  emergency 
to  a  fellow  worker,  he  said,  "I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  could 
not  depend  on  my  friends  in  America,  that  /  must  depend  on 
God  alone.  Therefore,  I  must  live  closer  to  God  than  I  had 
ever  done  before.    I  must  get  into  the  very  heart  of  God." 

The  final  value  of  the  scriptural  teaching  of  the  steward- 
ship of  prayer  lies  in  its  emphasis  upon  man's  ultimate  de- 
pendence upon  God  as  the  source  and  creator  of  the 
divine  resources  of  the  Kingdom.  No  one  really  learns 
this  without  coming  to  realize  that  prayer  must 
be  the  first  business  of  his  life.  So  it  was  with  Paul.  He 
had  seen  through  the  very  heart  of  God ;  and  catching  the 
vision  of  the  Divine  program,  and  feeling  the  Divine  passion 
for  humanity  he  learned  also  his  utter  dependence  upon  the 
Divine  resources  as  released  in  intercession.  This  is  the  ex- 
planation of  the  old  veteran's  exhortation  to  the  young 
Timothy : 

1  exhort,  therefore,  first  of  all,  that  supplications, 
prayers,    intercessions,    thanksgivings,    be    made    for    all 

126 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PRAYER  [VI-7] 

men.  .  .  .  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  praying  at 
all  seasons  in  the  Spirit,  and  watching  thereunto  in  all 
perseverance  and  supplication  for  all  the  saints. — i  Tim. 
2.  I ;  Eph.  6.  18. 

But  the  supreme  illustration  of  one  who  saw  ''through  the 
eyes  of  God"  and  put  prayer  as  the  first  work  of  faithful 
stewardship  was  our  Lord  himself.  Of  this  example  Robert 
E.  Speer  says :  "There  are  two  things  which  make  our  Lord's 
example  in  the  life  of  prayer  of  special  significance.  In  the 
first  place,  if  ever  anyone  could  have  dispensed  with  prayer,  it 
was  he.  In  the  second  place,  his  experience  tried  out  the 
whole  reality  of  prayer.  Whatever  he  found  in  it,  we  may  be 
sure  is  there." 

And  in  the  morning,  a  great  while  before  day,  he  rose 
up  and  went  out,  and  departed  into  a  desert  place,  and 
there  prayed.    .     .     . 

And  straightway  he  constrained  the  disciples  to  enter 
into  the  boat,  and  to  go  before  him  imto  the  other  side, 
till  he  should  send  the  multitudes  away.  And  after  he 
had  sent  the  multitudes  away,  he  went  up  into  the  moun- 
tain apart  to  pray.     .     .     . 

And  he  was  parted  from  them  about  a  stone's  cast; 
and  he  kneeled  down  and  prayed. — Mark  i.  35;  Matt.  14. 
22,  23;  Luke  22.  41. 

MEDITATION 

Allow  no  rush  of  work  or  of  pleasure  to  crowd  out  time  for 
prayer.  Luther  once  said,  "I  have  much  work  to  do  to-day, 
so  I  will  arise  an  hour  earlier  in  order  to  have  time  for  quiet 
prayer."  Those  who  make  a  rule  of  the  Morning  Watch 
should  resolve  never  to  allow  a  single  exception.  When  away 
on  vacations,  or  sleeping  in  the  same  room  with  others,  on 
camping  parties  when  we  sleep  under  the  stars,  or  out  in  the 
thick  of  life's  work,  cling  unshakably  to  the  regular  observ- 
ance of  this  life-giving  habit. — David  R.  Porter. 

"Lo !    amid    the   press, 

The  whirl  and  hum  and  pressure  of  my  day, 
I  hear  thy  garments  sweep,  thy  seamless  dress, 
And  close  beside  my  work  and  weariness 

Discern  thy  gracious  form,  not  far  away, 
But  very  near,  O  Lord,  to  help  and  bless. 
127 


[VI-7]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"The  busy  fingers  fly,  the  eyes  may  see 

Only  the  glancing  needle  which  they  hold, 
But  all  my  life  is  blossoming  inwardly, 
And  every  breath  is  like  a  Htany ; 

While  through  each  labor,  like  a  thread  of  gold. 
Is  woven  the  sweet  consciousness  of  thee !" 

— Susan    Coolidge. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God  our  Father,  who  dost  exhort  us  to  pray,  and  who 
dost  grant  what  we  ask,  if  only,  when  we  ask,  we  live  a 
better  life;  hear  me,  who  am  trembling  in  this  darkness,  and 
stretch  forth  thy  hand  unto  me;  hold  forth  thy  light  before 
me;  recall  me  from  my  wanderings;  and,  thou  being  my  guide, 
may  I  be  restored  to  myself  and  to  thee,  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. — Saint  Augustine. 


128 


OUTLINE— SIXTH   WEEK.     STEWARDSHIP  AND 
PRAYER 

1.  Introductory:  The  Place  of  Prayer. 

2.  First  Day :  Prayer  in  the  Primitive  Church. 

3.  Second  Day :  God's  Response  to  Prayer. 

4.  Third  Day:  Regular  Stewaidship  of  Prayer. 

5.  Fourth    Day :    Unlocking  the   Doors. 

6.  Fifth  Day:  Releasing  Personal  Power. 

7.  Sixth  Day :  Prayer  a  Duty. 

8.  Seventh  Day :  Depending  on  God. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  is  prayer  that  its  use  becomes  so  imperative? 

b.  Is  the  one  who  does  not  pray  godless? 

c.  What  is  the  power  committed  to  the  friends  of  Jesus? 

d.  Why  should  God  wait  for  men  to  pray  before  sending 

workers? 

e.  Do  you  believe  the  statements  by  Robert  E.  Speer  con- 

cerning the  efficacy  of  prayer?     Why? 

2.  a.  What  is  the  relative  importance  of  organization  and  of 

prayer  in  your  own  church? 
b.  Were  the  Grecians  wrong  in  calling  attention  to  abuses 
in  the  church  ?     Is  it  wrong  now  to  question  the  con- 
duct of  the  church? 

3.  a.  May  we  expect  a  certain  amount  of  power  or  virtue  for 

a  given  amount  of  praying? 
b.  What  do  we  mean  by  "filling  the  vials  of  prayer"? 

4.  a.  Is  prayer  a  happy  privilege,  or  a  desperate  remedy  for 

"lost  causes"  ? 
b.  Who  comesi  first  in  your  care,  you,  or  others,  or  God? 

5.  a.  Is  prayer  a  duty?  a  service?  a  condition?  an  attitude?  a 

conferring?     a     monologue?     a     dialogue?     worship? 
magic?  ritual?  an  offering?  a  safeguard?  a  "pull"? 
129 


[VI-o]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

6.  a.  What  differences  have  you  noticed  between  those  who 

pray  and  others  who  do  not? 
h.  If   men    believe    that    prayer    releases    divine    resources, 
why  do  they  not  pray? 

c.  In  what  ways  are  God's  administration  of  spiritual  and 

material  powers   similar? 

d.  Discuss  the  following  question  asked  by  a  layman  of  his 

pastor:  "Some  people  do  a  lot  of  praying  but  little 
else,  and  some  of  us  do  a  lot  of  work  and  not  much 
praying — which  do  you  prefer?" 

7.  a.  Explain  why  it  is  a  sin  not  to  pray? 

h.  What    relation    is    there   between   prayer    and    morale — 
courage,  confidence,  and  fidelity? 

8.  a.  Are  the  prizes,  obtainable  through  merely  human  help, 

worthy  a  man's  life? 
h.  Which   is   more   important  to   us,   what  Jesus   said,    or 
what  he  did? 

EXERCISES 

1.  May  woVk  and  prayer  be  dissociated  successfully? 

2.  Suggest  why  God  should  wish  to  give  his  followers  power 

"to  release  the  spiritual  resources"  available? 

3.  If  you  were  asked  to  pray  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 

States,  what  preparation  would  you  make? 

4.  Point   out   the   use   of   prayer   in  the   primitive   church   at 

critical  times  as  recorded  in  the  Acts. 

5.  What  did  the  psalmist  mean  when  he  said,  "The  Lord  is  my 

refuge     and     strength"?       What     kind    of     "strength," 
physical,  mental,  moral,  financial? 

6.  Is  it  possible  to  pray  without  ceasing? 

7.  What  is  intercessory  prayer?    Is  it  necessary? 

8.  Does  depending  on  God  make  man  a  weak  dependent;  or 

what  is  the  result  of  the  intimate  association? 

9.  Make  a  brief  outline  of  the  chapter. 


130 


CHAPTER  VII 


The  Peril  to  Stewardship 

INTRODUCTORY 

"111  fares  the  land,  to  hastening  ills  a  prey, 
Where  wealth  accumulates,  and  men  decay." 

John  Wesley  never  showed  more  keenly  his  powers  of  dis- 
cernment than  when  he  said,  "Christianity  has  in  it  the 
elements  of  its  own  destruction."  Of  course  the  statement 
needs  explanation,  and  Wesley  proceeds  to  explain :  "W^hen  a 
man  becomes  a  true  Christian  he  becomes  industrious,  trust- 
worthy, and  prosperous.  Now,  if  that  man,  whilst  he  gets 
all  he  can  and  saves  all  he  can,  does  not  give  all  he  can,  I  have 
more  hope  of  Judas  Iscariot  than  of  that  man !" 

Evidently,  the  burden  of  this  message  from  an  old  sermon 
is  this:  Godliness  brings  prosperity;  prosperity  creates  prop- 
erty; but  property  brings  the  peril  of  a  divided  heart.  There- 
fore, blessed  is  the  man  who  keeps  property  in  its  proper  place, 
even  as  God  said  at  the  beginning,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other 
gods  before  me."  Thus  the  present  chapter  is  an  appeal  to 
the  church  to  uproot  the  prevalent  sin  of  covetousness,  a  sin 
that  is  the  more  devastating  because  it  stalks  abroad  in  the 
guise  of  respectability,  not  only  blocking  the  progress  of  the 
Kingdom  but  deceiving  the  very  elect.  Pity  the  man  whose 
money  intended  to  be  his  servant,  actually  becomes  his 
master;  who  does  not  see  property  in  the  light  of  a  steward- 
ship, not  to  be  lavished  on  self,  but  to  be  used  for  the  saving 
of  the  community  and  of  the  world — in  the  name  of  God. 
Property  can  bless  to  heaven  or  tempt  to  hell. 

Among  the  growing  clouds  of  witnesses  to  this  truth  is  Mr, 
Roger  W.  Babson,  who  goes  further  than  Wesley,  suggest- 
ing how  nations  as  well  as  individuals  are  blighted  by  the  lust 
for  wealth. 

"Just  before  I  went  to  Brazil,"  says  Mr.  Babson,  "I  was  the 

131 


[Vll-i]      THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

guest  of  the  President  of  the  Argentine  Republic.  After 
lunching  one  day  we  sat  in  his  sun  parlor  looking  out  over 
the  river.  He  was  very  thoughtful.  He  said,  'Mr  Babson, 
I  have  been  wondering  why  it  is  that  South  America,  with 
all  its  great  natural  advantages,  is  so  far  behind  North 
America,  notwithstanding  that  South  America  was  settled 
before  North  America.'  Then  he  went  on  to  tell  how  the 
forests  of  South  America  had  two  hundred  and  eighty-six 
trees  that  can  be  found  in  no  book  of  botany.  He  told  me 
about  many  ranches  that  had  thousands  of  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion in  one  block.  He  mentioned  the  mines  of  iron,  coal, 
copper,  silver,  and  gold,  and  all  those  great  rivers  and  water 
powers  which  rival  Niagara.  'Why  is  it,  with  all  these  natural 
resources,  so  far  behind  North  America?'  he  asked.  Well, 
those  of  you  who  have  been  there  know  the  reason,  but 
being  a  guest,  I  said,  'Mr.  President,  what  do  you  think  is 
the  reason?'  He  replied,  'I  have  come  to  this  conclusion: 
South  America  was  settled  by  the  Spanish,  who  came  to 
South  America  in  search  of  gold;  but  North  America  was 
settled  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  who  went  there  in  search  of 
God!'" 

The  author  of  the  above  tale  significantly  adds,  "Let  us 
American  citizens  never  kick  down  the  ladder  by  which  we 
climbed  up."  It  is  characteristic  of  the  insidious  sin  of 
covetousness  that  it  leads  to  this  very  thing. 

When  Mr.  Gilbert  Chesterton  said,  "Christianity  has  not 
been  tried  and  found  wanting — it  has  been  found  difficult  and 
not  tried,"  he  might  have  been  writing  an  introduction  to  a 
tract  on  the  Christianizing  of  property,  for  without  question 
the  greatest  hindrance  to  Christian  conquest  at  this  hour  is 
the  unconsecrated  money  in  the  hands  of  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Here  is  terrible  evidence  of  the  wide- 
spread grip  which  the  sin  of  covetousness  has  gotten  upon 
professing  Christians.  And  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  this 
is  so,  and  that  it  is  so  in  direct  disobedience  to  the  teachings 
of  the  New  Testament. 

Take  just  one  of  the  statements  o'f  Jesus,  "Lay  not  up  for 
yourselves  treasures  on  earth."  Since  the  days  of  the  early 
church  what  generation  of  Christians  has  taken  these  words 
seriously?  The  devil  of  covetousness  has  helped  us  either  to 
dodge  them  altogether  or  explain  away  their  meaning.  Cer- 
tainly, we  have  not  tried  them  and  found  them  wanting.     On 

132 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP  [Vll-i] 

the  other  hand,  they  have  been  found  difficult  and  not  tried. 
Meanwhile  Christ  has  been  wounded  in  the  house  of  his 
friends,  and  his  disciples  have  degenerated  in  the  midst  of 
luxuries  and  pleasures  that  unconsecrated  wealth  affords. 
Hear  John  Wesley  again  on  this  point.  His  language  may  be 
vigorous,  but  no  one  will  question  his  earnest  purpose  to  save 
his  people  from  loving  money  more  than  God.  He  says : 
"Some  of  you  Methodists  are  twice  as  rich  as  you  were  before 
you  were  Methodists ;  some  of  you  are  fourfold  as  rich ;  some 
of  you  are  tenfold  as- rich;  now  if,  whilst  you  get  all  you 
can  and  save  all  you  can,  you  do  not  give  all  you  can,  then 
you  are  tenfold  more  the  child  of  hell  than  you  were  before !" 

But  what  additional  evidence  is  there  that  the  love  of  money 
is  indeed  perilous?  Call  the  witnesses.  In  the  first  place, 
there  is  the  testimony  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  Then, 
as  already  indicated,  there  is  witness  from  the  experience  of 
men  and  nations.  We  will  record  them  all  in  the  "Daily  Read- 
ings," but  for  the  present  consider  this  typical  case  of  a 
modern  business  man  who  tells  the  story  of  "Why  I  stopped 
getting  rich  for  riches'  sake." 

"My  first  shock  occurred  when  one  day  an  old  man  came 
into  my  office.  He  was  a  Scotchman  whom  I  had  known  from 
my  boyhood.  He  came  to  America  a  poor  boy;  both  he  and 
his  parents  had  struggled  with  poverty,  and  he  had  inherited 
the  spirit  of  frugality  and  thrift.  My  earliest  recollection  of 
him  was  as  a  young  man  filled  with  ambition,  strength,  and 
capacity  for  enormous  endeavor,  fun-loving  and  kind.  I  now 
saw  on  old  man,  broken  and  shattered ;  the  open,  generous 
expression  had  gone  from  his  face,  and  another  force  was  host 
of  the  citadel  of  his  soul.  He  had  become  very  rich,  hut  had 
neglected  other  graces.  His  children  had  wandered  away 
into  different  ways,  none  of  them  honoring  to  the  father.  He 
told  me  his  story;  his  life  was  bitter,  and  the  end  was  un- 
satisfactory. Indeed,  he  said  that  if  he  were  back  again  in 
Scotland  among  the  heather  hills,  free  to  choose  the  course 
of  life  again,  he  would  gladly  give  up  all  the  wealth  his  life 
had  been  dedicated  to  secure.  Tears  dropped  from  his  eyes 
as  he  told  me  this,  and  I  imagine  that  tears  had  for  a  long 
time  been  a  stranger  to  his  hard  face.  It  made  me  think, 
What  was  the  difference  between  the  course  I  was  taking  and 
the  one  which  he,  at  my  age,  had  pursued?" 

Like  the  prodigal  son,  the  younger  business  man — warned 

133 


[Vll-i]      THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

by  this  living  example  of  a  shriveled  soul — came  to  himself. 
Out  of  his  struggle  with  his  passion  for  riches  and  for  worldly 
success,  he  says  :  "There  is  a  sin  in  the  church  that  we  are 
afraid  to  mention.  What  is  its  common  name?  I  will  tell 
you  what  its  common  name  is,  and  what  its  aristocratic  name 
is,  and  what  its  historical  name  is,  and  what  its  scriptural 
name  is.  It  is  covetousness."  "Oh,  well,"  you  say,  "that  is  not 
so  bad.  That  is  a  pretty  white  sort  of  sin,  in  fact,  almost  a 
virtue,  for  it  is  just  saving,  isn't  it?  Being  thrifty,  being 
shrewd;  that  is  what  covetousness  is,  isn't  it?  In  that  case, 
even  if  Paul  and  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah  and  some  others  speak 
of  it  as  a  sin,  it  cannot  be  so  bad."  Well,  let  us  see  what  Paul 
says  about  it,  what  his  idea  of  the  thing  is.  Hear  what  he 
says : 

"For  this  ye  know  of  a  surety,  that  no  fornicator,  nor  unclean 
person,  nor  covetous  man,  who  is  an  idolater,  hath  any  in- 
heritance in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  God." — Eph.  5.  5. 

"Now  that  is  awful.  Surely  Paul  had  gotten  excited  in 
speaking  to  the  Ephesians.  Surely  he  did  not  mean  that  a 
man  who  simply  hangs  onto  this  world's  goods  should  be 
classified  in  such  frightful  company  as  fornicators  and  idol- 
aters. It  must  be  that  he  was  excited  that  day.  Let  us  see 
what  he  said  to  the  Colossians  when  he  spoke  to  them : 

"  'Put  to  death  therefore  your  members  which  are  upon  the 
earth :  fornication,  uncleanness,  passion,  evil  desire,  and 
covetousness,  which  is  idolatry.' — Col.  3.  5. 

"That  is  just  about  as  bad  as  the  other.  Surely,  Paul  does 
not  mean  to  speak  thus  about  a  man  who  gets  a  good  big  pile 
of  money,  and  then  is  kind  enough  to  go  to  church  and 
respectable  enough  always  to  put  a  nice  crisp  bill  on  the 
plate,  which  is  as  much  as  he  has  given  during  the  week 
tipping  porters  on  the  train  and  in  restaurants.  Surely,  Paul 
does  not  mean  that  a  man  who  is  as  good  to  God  as  he  is  to 
the  waiter  could  be  guilty  of  a  sin  classed  with  idolatry  and 
uncleanness.  Let  us  see  what  he  says  somewhere  else.  In 
Romans,  for  example : 

"  'Being  filled  with  all  unrighteousness,  wickedness,  covetous- 
ness,''   maliciousness;     full    of    envy,    murder,    strife,    deceit, 


iNot  italics  in  original. 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP  [Vll-i] 

malignity ;  whisperers,  backbiters,  hateful  to  God,  insolent, 
haughty,  boastful,  inventors  of  evil  things,  disobedient  to» 
parents.' — Rom.   i.  29.   30. 

"Here  we  are  in  this  day  of  our  Lord  with  a  sin  within  our 
church  that  is  condemned  more  violently  in  the  Scripture  tharu 
any  other  sin.  Search  the  Scriptures  from  Genesis  to  Revela- 
tion, and  you  will  not  find  the  idolatry  of  Astoreth  or  Baal  de- 
nounced in  as  lurid  language  as  is  this  sin  of  covetousness. 
.  .  .  This  is  the  sin  that  made  Achan  a  thief,  that  made 
Gehazi  the  leper  white  as  snow,  that  made  Ananias  a  liar, 
that  made  Judas  betray  Christ.  This  is  the  kind  of  sin  we 
are  not  saying  much  about.  .  .  .  Come,  men  of  the  King- 
dom, let  us  talk  about  this  thing!  Let  us  dig  out  its  cancerous 
roots!  Let  us  meet  it  squarely;  let  us  turn  the  world's  finger 
of  scorn  from  the  church  that  shelters  our  wives  and  our 
little  children." 

It  is  impossible  to  find  any  comprehensive  definition  of 
"covetousness."  Definitions  can  help,  but  cannot  go  to  the 
root  of  the  peril.  To  say  that  covetousness  is  "inordinate 
desire,"  or  that  a  covetous  person  is  "avaricious,"  "greedy," 
or  "mercenary,"  is  hardly  to  define  adequately.  All  of  these 
definitions  must  be  further  explained.  For  our  purposes  it 
may  be  enough  to  declare  that  covetousness  is  the  arch  enemy 
of  lesiis  philosophy  of  stewardship ;  it  makes  self  the  center 
and  circumference  of  the  universe.  It  is  the  negation  of 
everything  that  stewardship  stands  for.  It  creates  a  selfish, 
cruel  world  without  a  God  and  without  a  heaven. 

"I  looked  upon  a  sea, 

And  lo !  it  was  dead, 
Although  by  Hermon's  snows 
And  Jordan  fed. 

"How  came  a  fate  so  dire? 

The  tale's  soon  told. 
All  that  it  got  it  kept 
And  fast  did  hold. 

"All   tributary   streams 
Found  here  their  grave, 
Because  that  sea  received 
But   never   gave. 

135 


[VII-i]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"O  sea  that's  dead !     Teach  me 

To  know  and  feel 
That  selfish  grasp  and  greed 
My  doom  will  seal. 

"And  help  me,  Lord,  my  best, 

Myself  to  give. 
That  I  may  others  bless 
And  iilc^   thee  live." 


DAILY  READINGS 
Seventh  Week— First  Day 

Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  covetousness  is  a  sin  that  grips 
the  rich  man  alone.  "It  has  worked  as  a  gangrene  into  the 
whole  fabric  of  Christian  society.  There  are  plenty  of  people 
that  do  not  have  capacity  to  earn  more  than  fifteen  dollars  a 
week,  the  citadel  of  whose  hfe  is  clenched  as  tightly  in  the 
grip  of  covetousness  as  that  of  the  millionaire."  Indeed,  the 
ubiquitousness  of  this  sin  explains  why  covetousness  is  a 
peril  not  only  to  the  individual  but  to  nations.  At  the  close 
of  the  Great  War  a  high  government  official  declared,  "We 
would  have  had  a  veritable  riot  of  greed  had  it  not  been  for 
the  restrictions  imposed  upon  'business'  by  the  national  govern- 
ment." This  statement  is  certainly  unexaggerated,  and 
demonstrates  how  nations  may  be  at  the  mercy  of  a  prevalent 
sin.  A  nation  can  make  progress  only  as  it  learns  the  stew- 
ardship principle  that  "to  have  is  to  owe." 

Indeed,  the  real  character  of  a  nation  can  be  determined 
by  subtracting  its  expenditures  from  its  income,  and  then 
making  a  study  of  the  items  of  expense.  This  is  what  Dr. 
Edwin  M.  Poteat  has  done  in  the  two  quotations  that  follow : 

"While  we  were  at  war  we  laid  by  in  perfectly  good  sav- 
ings at  a  good  per  cent  of  interest  one  billion  dollars  a  month 
in  liberty  bonds.  .  .  .  If  we  had  had  our  present  wealth  in 
George  Washington's  day,  we  could  have  bought  every  foot 
of  ground  on  the  earth's  surface,  paid  cash,  and  had  money 
in  the  bank.  The  war  transformed  us  from  a  debtor  to  a 
creditor  nation." 

"But  it  is  worth  while  to  remind  ourselves  that  all  our  war 
charities — Red  Cross,  war  work  drive.   Salvation  Army,  war 

136 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-i] 

chests,  etc. — probably  fell  short  of  $700,000,000.  That  is  to 
say,  they  did  not  equal  in  amount  the  interest  of  a  single 
year  on  our  liberty  bonds." 

It  seems  evident  that,  while  America  is  moved  now  and 
then  by  spasms  of  benevolence,  the  "spasm"  does  not  very 
deeply  affect  us  nor  does  it  last  very  long.  Only  a  small 
portion  of  our  people  have  as  yet  triumphed  over  covetous- 
ness  to  the  point  where  generosity  becomes  systematic  and 
habitual,  while  sacrifice  is  a  word  understood  by  only  a  few. 
A  careful  study  will  estabhsh  the  conviction  that  the  person 
is  an  exception  who  does  not  annually  expend  more  for  per- 
sonal or  family  luxuries  than  for  religion  and  benevolence  and 
public  education  combined.  Certainly,  these  facts  seem  to 
suggest  that  a  modern  nation  can  face  the  same  peril  which 
the  prophet  Jeremiah  declared  was  threatening  covetous  Israel. 

For  from  the  least  of  them  even  unto  the  greatest  of 
them  every  one  is  given  to  covetousness:  and  from  the 
prophet  even  unto  the  priest  every  one  dealeth  falsely. 
They  have  healed  also  the  hurt  of  my  people  slightly,  say- 
ing. Peace,  peace;  when  there  is  no  peace.  Were  they 
ashamed  when  they  had  committed  abomination?  nay, 
they  were  not  at  all  ashamed,  neither  could  they  blush: 
therefore  they  shall  fall  among  them  that  fall;  at  the 
time  that  I  visit  them  they  shall  be  cast  down,  saith 
Jehovah.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways  and 
see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good  way; 
and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  yoiur  souls. 

— Jer.  6.  13-16. 

MEDITATION 

"I  did  not  know  till  neath  the  rod 
I   passed  how   sore   I   needed   God; 
In  sorrow's  night  lo !  like  a  star 
I  saw  his  love  shine  from  afar. 

"I    did   not  know   till   on  a   grave 
I  saw  the  wind-blown  grasses  wave 
How   futile   and   how  fugitive 
The  baubles  are  for  which  we  strive. 

"I   did  not  know  until  above 
God  called  the  idol  of  my  love 
Beyond   the  reach   of   yearning  eyes 
How  beautiful  is  paradise."      — Susie    M.   Best. 

137 


[VII-2]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Are    we    to   congratulate    ourselves    or    commiserate    our- 
selves  on   these  enormous   and   inconceivable   figures?     John  ( 
Ruskin  raised  the  question  whether  wealth  might  not  better  | 
be  called  "illth,"  as  tending  to  our  ill  being  rather  than  our  I 
well-being;  and  certain  it  is  that  every  great  civilization  which 
has    perished,    perished   after    a    period    of    great   prosperity. 

— Edwin  M.  Pot  eat. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  renew  our  spirits,  and  draw  our  hearts  unto  thy- 
self, that  our  work  may  not  he  to  us  a  burden  hut  a  delight; 
and  give  us  such  a  mighty  love  to  thee  as  may  sweeten  all 
our  obedience.  Oh  let  us  not  serve  thee  with  the  spirit  of 
bondage  as  slaves,  hut  with  the  cheerfulness  and  gladness  of 
children,  delighting  ourselves  in  thee  and  rejoicing  in  thy 
work.     Amen. — ^Benjamin  Jenks. 


Seventh  Week — Second  Day 

Evidently,  the  damning  characteristic  of  covetousness  lies 
in  what  it  leads  to.  It  lures  men  on.  The  commandment, 
"Thou  shalt  not  covet,"  is  God's  warning  against  countenanc- 
ing the  very  beginnings  of  sin.  "Is  a  stingy  man  a  covetous 
man?"  "Is  stinginess  wickedness?"  The  surprise  with  which 
these  questions  are  so  often  asked  clearly  indicates  the 
stealthiness  with  which  this  sin  creeps  on  the  unsuspecting, 
and,  with  sweet  deceit,  fixes  one's  affections  on  things  rather 
than  life.  There  is  apparently  little  harm  in  the  request 
of  the  man  in  to-day's  Scripture,  but  Jesus  sees  the  snake 
of  covetousness  lifting  its  poisonous  head  and  he  cries,  "Be- 
ware." 

And  one  out  of  the  multitude  said  unto  him,  Teacher, 
bid  my  brother  divide  the  inheritance  with  me.  But  he 
said  imto  him,  Man,  who  made  me  a  judge  or  a  divider 
over  you?  And  he  said  unto  them.  Take  heed,  and  keep 
yourselves  from  all  covetousness:  for  a  man's  life  con- 
sisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  which  he 
possesseth. — Luke   12.   13-15. 

MEDITATION 

I  have  had  many  people  resort  to  me  for  confession.     The  ; 
138  i 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-3] 

confession  of  every  sin  that  I  have  known  or  heard  of,  and 
of  sins  so  foul  that  I  never  dreamed  of  them,  has  been 
poured  into  my  ear.  But  no  person  has  ever  confessed  to 
me  the  sin  of  covetousness. — Francis  Xavier. 

"To  live  as  gently  as  I  can; 
To  be,  no  matter  where,  a  man; 
To  take  what  comes  of  good  or  ill, 
To   cling  to    faith   and   honor    still; 
To   do  my  best  and   let   that  stand 
The   record  of  my  brain  and  hand; 
And  then,   should   failure  come   to   me, 
Still  work  and  hope  for  victory ! 

"To   have   no   secret   place   wherein 
I  stoop  unseen  to  shame  or  sin; 
To  be  the  same  when  I'm  alone 
As  when  my  every  deed  is  known ; 
To  live  undaunted,  unafraid 
Of  any  step  that  I  have  made; 
To    be   without   pretense    or   sham 
Exactly  what  men  think  I  am." 

— Edgar  A.  Guest. 

A    PRAYER 

O  Lord,  my  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me.  "I  how  my  fore- 
head to  the  dust,  I  veil  my  face  for  shame,  and  plead  in 
trembling  self -distrust,  a  prayer  without  one  claim."  Not 
only  my  heart.  Lord,  hut  my  mind — sanctify  my  mind  hy 
the  enlightening  power  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  heing  ahle 
to  detect  the  very  heginnings  of  sin,  however  pleasant  or 
alluring,  I  may  he  cleansed  from  all  covetousness,  whether  of 
the  world  or  the  Hesh  or  the  devil;  and  seeking  only  and 
always  thy  glory,  be  found  at  last  among  the  victorious  in 
thy  Kingdom,  through  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


Seventh  Week— Third  Day 

The  tragedy  of  Ananias  and  Sapphira  is  one  of  God's  most 
striking  warnings  concerning  the  sin  of  covetousness.  'Tf 
God  should  deal  as  drastically  with  the  church  members  to- 
day who  covet  prominence  but  hold  on  to  their  money,  what 
percentage    of    the    church    members    would    be    carried    out 

139 


[VII-3]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

dead?"  This  question  was  addressed  to  a  certain  minister, 
who  found  it  convenient  to  answer,  "Such  questions  should 
be  left  to  the  Great  Judge." 

So  they  should,  but  this  does  not  make  void  the  terrible 
warning  of  to-day's  Scripture  that  covetousness  brings  cer- 
tain judgment.  Moreover,  the  curse  does  not  go  single- 
handed.  The  lust  for  preeminence  generally  accompanies  the 
love  of  money.  Covetousness  has  this  one  thing  in  common 
with  stewardship,  in  that  it  cultivates  an  ambitious  spirit, 
but  there  is  a  world  of  difference  in  the  motive  and  result. 
Some  one  comparing  Napoleon  and  Phillips  Brooks,  said, 
"The  one  sought  the  world  for  himself,  the  other  sought 
the  world   for   Christ." 

In  the  end  all  covetous  desires  must  result  In  soul-tragedy. 
So  Dr.  George  Clarke  Peck  is  right  when  he  says  that  "the 
best  way  to  get  ahead  is  to  get  ahead  of  yourself."  Any 
other  kind  of  "getting  ahead"  must  surely  fail.  This  is  the 
lesson  that  Ananias  and  Sapphira  did  not  learn,  and  which 
covetousness  never  teaches. 

But  a  certain  man  named  Ananias,  with  Sapphira  his 
wife,  sold  a  possession,  and  kept  back  part  o£  the  price, 
his  wife  also  being  privy  to  it,  and  brought  a  certain 
part,  and  laid  it  at  the  apostles'  feet.  But  Peter  said, 
Ananias,  why  hath  Satan  filled  thy  heart  to  lie  to  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  to  keep  back  part  of  the  price  of  the 
land?  While  it  remained,  did  it  not  remain  thine  own? 
and  after  it  was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thy  power?  How  is 
it  that  thou  hast  conceived  this  thing  in  thy  heart?  thou 
has  not  lied  unto  men,  but  unto  God.  And  Ananias  hear- 
ing these  words  fell  down  and  gave  up  the  ghost:  and 
great  fear  came  upon  all  that  heard  it. — Acts  5.  1-5. 

MEDITATION 

The  most  sensitive  spot  in  the  surrender  of  the  whole 
life  to  God  is  my  property.  Perhaps  it  is  because  my  prop- 
erty provides  me  with  material  comforts,  selfish  satisfactions, 
and  gratifies  personal  tastes  and  appetites.  It  may  be  that 
my  property  represents  so  much  of  myself;  so  much  of  my 
toil,  so  much  of  my  effort;  so  much  of  my  time,  so  much  of 
my  strength ;  that  it  is  my  very  self.  .  .  .  The  question 
is,  "Who  is  owner — God  or  myself?"     If  God,  then   I  must 

140 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-4] 

surrender  all  to  him.  Sometimes  the  conflict  is  severe  and 
long.  Always  man  has  attempted  to  except  his  property 
from  the  surrender;  but  when  I  begin  to  condition  my  sur- 
render, then  I  begin  to  compromise ;  and  to  compromise  with 
God  is  fatal  to  my  soul. — Bishop  Theodore  S.  Henderson. 

"Wealth  is  a  means,  and  life  the  end; 

You  lose  your  hoard,  have  what  you  spend. 
For   that  unhappy  mortal   clay 

Who  never  learned  to  give  away ! 
His  heaped-up  wealth  made  him  its   slave ; 

He  did  not  use,  who  never  gave."  — Saadi. 

"Oh   joy   supreme!      I    know    the    voice — 

Like  none  beside  on  earth  or  sea; 
Yea,   more,  oh  soul  of   mine,   rejoice, 

By  all   that   he   requires   of   me, 
I   know   what   God   himself   must  be." 

— John    Greenleaf    Whittier. 

A    PRAYER 

0  Lord,  come  quickly  and  reign  on  thy  throne,  for  now 
oftentimes  something  rises  tip  within  me  and  tries  to  take 
possession  of  thy  throne;  Pride,  Covetoiisness,  Uncleanness, 
and  Sloth  want  to  he  my  kings;  then  Ezfil-S peaking,  Anger, 
Hatred,  and  the  whole  train  of  voices  join  with  me  in  work- 
ing against  myself  and  trying  to  reign  over  me.  I  resist  them, 
I  cry  out  against  them,  and  say,  "I  have  no  other  King  than 
Christ."  O  King  of  Peace,  come  and  reign  in  me,  for  I  will 
have  no   king   hut   thee!     Amen. — Saint   Bernard. 


Seventh  Week — Fourth  Day 

Another  peril  grows  out  of  the  fact  that  covetousness 
silences  the  instinctive  question  of  the  good  steward — "What 
am  I  here  for?"  The  question  that  covetousness  asks  is  not, 
"What  am  I  here  to  do?"  but  "What  am  I  here  to  get?" 
"My  Father's  business"  becomes  an  after  thought,  if  re- 
membered at  all.  A  pastor  in  an  Eastern  city  one  day  went 
to  a  wealthy  lady  in  his  congregation  to  urge  her  to  fur- 
nish the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  needed  for 
some  local  charity  in  which  the  church  was  interested.  The 
lady  was  not  as  much  noted   for  her  generosity  as   for   her 

141 


[VII-4]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

wealth.  She  demurred.  Finally  the  pastor  said,  "Well,  sister, 
you  pray  over  the  matter  this  week,  and  if  on  Sunday  you 
still  feel  that  you  should  not  give  this  money,  just  tell  me 
so  and  I  will  say  nothing  more  to  you  about  it."  The  pastor 
relates  that  on  the  next  Sabbath  he  opened  his  eyes  after 
the  benediction  to  see  his  good  parishioner  rushing  frantically 
toward  the  pulpit  with  a  roll  of  bills  in  her  outstretched 
hand.  "Here!"  she  cried,  as  she  thrust  the  money  in  his 
hand,  "take  your  money.  I  have  not  been  able  to  enjoy  my 
prayers  all  this  week !" 

Of  course  it  was  not  the  minister  who  spoiled  her  prayers. 
She  was  simply  experiencing  the  struggle  that  her  money- 
drugged  soul  was  making  in  trying  once  more  to  save  its 
possessor  from  the  deadening  grip  of  covetousness.  The 
same  thing  is  seen  in  to-day's  story  of  the  rich  young  ruler 
who  went  away  sorrowful.  The  Scripture  says,  "He  went 
away  sorrowful  for  he  was  one  that  had^  great  possessions." 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  his  great  possessions  had  him. 

And  as  he  was  going  forth  into  the  way,  there  ran  one 
to  him,  and  kneeled  to  him,  and  asked  him.  Good  Teacher, 
what  shall  I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life?  And 
Jesus  said  imto  him.  Why  callest  thou  me  good?  none  is 
good  save  one,  even  God.  Thou  knowest  the  command- 
ments. Do  not  kill.  Do  not  commit  adultery.  Do  not  steal, 
Do  not  bear  false  witness.  Do  not  defraud,  Honor  thy 
father  and  mother.  And  he  said  unto  him,  Teacher,  all 
these  things  have  I  observed  from  my  youth.  And  Jesus 
looking  upon  him  loved  him,  and  said  unto  him.  One 
thing  thou  lackest:  go,  sell  whatsoever  thou  hast,  and 
give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven: 
and  come,  follow  me.  But  his  countenance  fell  at  the 
saying,  and  he  went  away  sorrowful:  for  he  was  one  that 
had  great  possessions. — Mark  lo.  17-22. 

MEDITATION 

"Blessings    on    thee,    little    man, 
Barefoot  boy  with   cheeks  of   tan  1 
With    thy    turned-up    pantaloons. 
And  thy  merry   whistled   tunes; 
With    thy  red   lips,    redder   still, 
Kissed  by   strawberries  on  the  hill. 


^Not  italics  in  original. 

142 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-5] 

"From  my  heart  I  give  you  joy — 
I  was  once  a  barefoot  boy. 

"Let  the  million-dollared   ride ! 
Barefoot,  trudging  at  his   side, 
Thou   hast   more   than  he   can  buy 
In  the  reach  of  ear  and  eye — 
Outward   sunshine,   inward  joy: 
Blessings   on   thee,    barefoot   boy !" 

— John   G.    Whit  tier. 

We  begin  to  operate  with  vital  forces  when  we  cross  the 
border  into  the  land  of  sacrifice.  Christ  does  not  begin  his 
reckoning,  we  do  not  come  within  the  range  of  the  heavenly 
standards,  until  all  superfluities  have  been  peeled  and  stripped 
away.  The  things  that  we  can  spare  carry  no  blood.  The 
things  that  we  can  ill  spare  carry  part  of  ourselves,  and  are 
alive.  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  the  one  he  could  not 
spare,  gave  himself  with  the  gift,  and  in  the  wealth  of  the 
sacrifice  our  redemption  was  born. — J.  H.  Jowett. 

A    PRAYER 

O  Lord,  how  I  love  thy  law!  Surely  it  is  better  to  he  a 
doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  my  God  than  to  possess  the  riches 
of  the  world  for  a  season.  Hold  me  steadily  in  thy  presence ; 
let  not  the  vain  ambitions  of  this  world  enthrall  me,  nor  the 
covetous  desires  of  the  flesh  possess  me;  preserve  my  peace. 
"The  world  is  so  much  with  us,"  be  thou  my  strength;  give 
me  thy  joy,  that,  always  master  of  the  world,  it  may  never 
master  me.     Through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord.    Amen. 


Seventh  Week— Fifth  Day 

Covetousness  leads  to  the  death  of  all  stewardship  con- 
sciousness because  it  virtually  ignores  God's  claim  to  owner- 
ship, refuses  to  consider  his  call  to  service,  and  blindly  closes 
its  eyes  to  the  inevitable  day  of  reckoning.  When  one  seeks 
to  analyze  the  sin  of  stinginess  it  is  found  fundamentally  in 
appropriating  for  self  that  which  in  the  first  place  belongs 
to  God.  and,  secondly,  has  been  placed  by  the  heavenly  Father 
at  the  disposal  of  and  for  the  use  of  all  his  children.  One  of 
the  early  church  fathers  summarizes  this  truth  in  these  words : 

143 


[VII-5]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Understand  then,  ye  rich,  that  ye  are  in  duty  bound  to  do 
service,  having  received  more  than  ye  yourselves  need." 

The  passage  of  Scripture  that  follows  is  the  only  one  in 
the  New  Testament  where  Jesus  used  the  word  "fool"  in  the 
sense  of  "idiot,"  but  this  is  only  one  of  the  thousands  of  ex- 
amples where  love  for  money  dethrones  reason. 

And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them,  saying,  The  ground 
of  a  certain  rich  man  brought  forth  plentifully:  and  he 
reasoned  within  himself,  saying,  What  shall  I  do,  be- 
cause I  have  not  where  to  bestow  my  fruits?  And  he 
said.  This  will  I  do:  I  will  pull  down  my  barns,  and 
build  greater;  and  there  will  I  bestow  all  my  grain  and 
my  goods.  And  I  will  say  to  my  soul.  Soul,  thou  hast 
much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years;  take  thine  ease,  eat, 
drink,  be  merry.  But  God  said  unto  him,  Thou  foolish 
one,  this  night  is  thy  soul  required  of  thee;  and  the 
things  which  thou  hast  prepared,  whose  shall  they  be? 
So  is  he  that,  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself,  and  is  not 
rich  toward  God. — Luke  12.  16-21. 

MEDITATION 

There  is  a  tomb  stone  in  Florence,  Italy,  which  reads: 
"Here  lies  Estrella,  who  has  gone  to  Heaven  to  enjoy  a  for- 
tune of  fifty  thousand  florins  which  she  sent  ahead  of  her 
in  good  deeds."  Ah,  there  is  joy  in  stewardship. 
Our  methods  of  making  and  spending  money  in  this  life  will 
be  either  our  torment  or  our  bliss  in  the  eternal  world  so 
near   ahead. — R.  H.  Bennett. 

"So  live,  that  when  thy  summons  comes  to  join 
The    innumerable    caravan    that    moves 
To  that  mysterious  realm  where  each  shall  take 
His  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  death, 
Thou  go,  not  like  the  quarry  slave  at  night 
Scourged  to  his  dungeon,  but  sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust;  approach  thy  grave 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

— William   Cullen  Bryant, 

A    PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus,  who  for  our  sakes  didst  become  poor,  we 
pray  thee  to  protect  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world,  that  they 

144 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-6] 

may  not  he  high-minded,  nor  trust  in  uncertain  riches,  but 
in  thee,  the  living  God,  who  givest  us  richly  all  things  to 
enjoy.  Grant  them  grace  so  to  use  their  wealth  that  they 
may  do  good,  and  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to  distribute 
and  willing  to  communicate;  laying  up  in  store  for  themselves 
a  good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that  they  may 
lay  hold  on  eternal  life;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. — "Sursum  Corda." 


Seventh  Week— Sixth  Day 

It  should  be  observed  that  this  tenth  commandment  has 
a  unique  relation  to  all  of  the  others.  If  Achan  had  learned 
to  check  his  evil  desires  upon  their  first  appearance,  he  would 
not  have  stolen  the  "devoted"  thing  and  thus  brought  a 
curse  upon  himself  and  all  the  people  of  Israel.  All  thought 
of  the  stewardship  intrusted  to  him  and  to  his  people  vanishes 
as  he  entertains  his  lust  for  gold.  But  sin  will  out,  and  the 
result  is  the  defeat  of  the  army  of  Israel  as  they  move  for- 
ward from  Jericho  to  the  conquest  of  the  next  heathen 
stronghold.  Is  there  not  a  striking  parallel  between  the  posi- 
tion of  Joshua  and  the  Israelites  as  they  humble  themselves 
in  the  dust  after  their  defeat,  and  the  situation  of  the  modern 
church  as  it  stumbles  or  weakly  advances  in  the  face  of  the 
open  doors  of  to-day  in  all  the  world?  Are  present-day 
'Christians  using  for  themselves  the  "devoted"  things  which 
God  has  commanded  should  be  used  for  the  Kingdom?  This 
question  certainly  is  pertinent  when  American  Christians  are 
spending  more  for  candy  than  for  all  the  work  carried  on 
by  the  church  both  at  home  and  abroad.  A  well-known 
layman  expresses  some  concern  that  the  United  States  should 
invest  a  billion  dollars  a  year  in  life  insurance  for  this  world, 
and  only  four  hundred  million  for  the  support  of  the  kingdom 
of  God.  But  this  comparison  is  insignificant  in  the  face  of 
the  tremendous  bill  for  luxuries  which  church  members  are 
piling  up   while  the  Kingdom  halts. 

And  Joshua  rent  his  clothes,  and  fell  to  the  earth  upon 
his  face  before  the  ark  of  Jehovah  until  the  evening,  he 
and  the  elders  of  Israel;  and  they  put  dust  upon  their 
heads.  And  Joshua  said,    .    .    .    Oh,   Lord,  what  shall   I 

145 


[VII-6]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

say,  after  that  Israel  hath  turned  their  backs  before  their 
enemies!    .    .    . 

And  Jehovah  said  unto  Joshua,  Get  thee  up;  wherefore 
art  thou  thus  fallen  upon  thy  face?  Israel  hath  sinned; 
yea,  they  have  even  transgressed  my  covenant  which  I 
commanded  them:  yea,  they  have  even  taken  of  the 
devoted  thing,  and  have  also  stolen,  and  dissembled  also; 
and  they  have  even  put  it  among  their  own  stuff.  .  .  . 
And  Achan  answered  Joshua,  and  said.  Of  a  truth  I  have 
sinned  against  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  and  thus  and 
thus  have  I  done:  when  I  saw  among  the  spoil  a  goodly 
Babylonish  mantle,  and  two  hundred  shekels  of  silver, 
and  a  wedge  of  gold  of  fifty  shekels  weight,  then  I 
coveted  them,  and  took  them;  and,  behold,  they  are  hid 
in  the  earth  in  the  midst  of  my  tent,  and  the  silver  under 
it. — Josh.  7.  6-8;  10,  11;  20,  21. 


MEDITATION 

The  love  that  builds  palatial  homes  and  fills  them  with 
luxurious  furnishings  and  costly  statuary  is  not  a  love  for 
God  or  humanity.  I  do  not  envy  homes  built  for  fame  and 
prestige.  I  tremble  for  their  inmates  lest  they  banish  Christ 
who  loves  the  lowly,  lonely,  hungry,  shivering,  neglected 
ones.  He  allows  comforts,  but  not  luxury,  until  all  God's 
claims  have  been  met;  and  never  were  more  millions  facing 
starvation  than  to-day  right  in  the  heart  of  Christendom.  It 
is  surely  not  God's  time  for  building  fortunes  out  of  his 
bounty,  or  for  the  American  people  to  be  untrue  to  their' 
stewardship  of  freedom  and  equal  opportunity  for  all 
peoples. — Bishop  Earl   Cranston. 

"In  vain  we  call  old  notions  fudge, 

And  bend  our  conscience  to  our  dealing; 
The  Ten  Commandments  will  not  budge, 
And   stealing   will   continue   stealing." 

— Lowell. 

A    PRAYER 

O  Lord,  grant  us  never  to  parley  with  temptation,  never  to 
tamper  with  conscience ;  never  to  spare  the  right  eye,  or 
hand,  or  foot  that  is  a  snare  to  us;  never  to  lose  our  souls, 
though  in  exchange  we  should  gain  the  whole  world.    Amen. 

— Christina  G.  Rossetti. 
146 


THE  PERIL  TO  STEWARDSHIP         [VII-7] 

Seventh  Week — Seventh  Day 

*'Can  a  rich  man  be  saved?"  is  the  question  of  to-day's 
study.  And  one  answer  is,  "Certainly,  a  rich  man  can  be 
saved,  but  not  as  a  rich  man."  Dr.  Poteat  phrases  it  thus  : 
"No  man  is  ever  admitted  into  the  society  of  the  King  of 
Love  except  as  a  pauper  both  as  respects  material  worth  and 
moral  worth.  It  is  because  he  sees  and  acknowledges  his 
unspeakable  destitution,  his  bankruptcy  of  soul,  that  he  cries, 
'Save,  Lord!'" 

"Nothing  in   my  hand   I  bring, 
Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling." 

But  the  peril  of  the  rich  man  lies  in  a  growing  inability  to 
see  his  "unspeakable  destitution,"  his  "bankruptcy  of  soul," 
either  because  of  self-esteem  which  increases  under  the  atten- 
tions and  flatteries  of  his  "friends,"  or  because,  as  Jesus 
suggests,  he  comes  to  trust  in  Mammon  rather  than  in  God. 
"When  I  had  nothing  I  found  it  easy  to  trust  in  God,  but 
aft^r  my  inheritance  came  it  seenjed  as  though  that  were  the 
only  thing  between  me  and  the  poorhouse."  This  was  the 
explanation  which  an  honest  soul  gave  to  her  minister  in  an- 
swer to  his  inquiry,  "Why  have  you  decreased  your  contri- 
butions to  the  church?"  Accordingly,  while  the  stewardship 
passion  for  Christ's  kingdom  is  endangered  by  a  hundred 
perils  which  riches  bring,  the  danger  which  Jesus  emphasizes 
most  seems  to  be  that  of  substituting  trust  in  money  for 
trust  in  God.  A  suggestive  illustration  of  this  comes  from 
Scotland.  A  certain  rich  man  was  giving  his  testimony,  re- 
calling the  day  when  his  total  wealth  was  a  shilling.  "That 
night,"  he  said,  "I  wandered  into  a  mission,  and  when  the 
collection  was  taken  I  dropped  it  all  in."  Rather  pompously 
he  continued,  "From  that  day  I  have  prospered,  for  I  gave 
everything  I  had  to  the  Lord." 

An  old  saint  sitting  on  the  front  seat,  who  had  been  listen- 
ing very  intently  to  the  man,  ejaculated:  "Ye  dare  na  do  it 
again !     Ye  dare  na  do  it  again !" 

Indeed  here  is  the  crux  of  the  matter.  A  rich  man  must 
dare  to  fix  his  trust  solely  on  Christ  if  he  is  to  be  saved.  This 
means,  of  course,  the  acceptance  of  the  principle  of  steward- 
ship, and  the  recognition  of  God's  ownership,  not  of  a  tenth 

147 


[VII-7]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

merely,  but  of  all.     As  Jesus  said,  "He  that  renounceth  not 
all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple." 

And  Jesus  said  unto  his  disciples,  Verily  I  say  unto 
you,  It  is  hard  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  And  again  I  say  unto  you.  It  is  easier  for  a 
camel  to  go  through  a  needle's  eye,  than  for  a  rich  man 
to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  when  the  dis- 
ciples heard  it,  they  were  astonished  exceedingly,  saying. 
Who  then  can  be  saved?  And  Jesus  looking  upon  them 
said  to  them.  With  men  this  is  impossible;  but  with 
God  all  things  are  possible. — Matt.  19.  23-26 

MEDITATION 

Money  is  danger.  We  pass  by  too  easily  the  searching, 
warnings  words  of  Jesus.  Nothing  can  fool  men  like  money. 
It  seems  so  powerful  that  it  makes  men  forget  the  Supreme 
Power.  It  feeds  pride  until  a  man  thinks  he  has  no  need  of 
God.  It  constantly  invites  selfishness.  It  commands  so  many 
things  that  men  forget  the  real  goods  which  it  can  never  pur- 
chase :  righteousness,  love  and  a  clear  conscience.  There  is 
only  one  way  of  escape :  an  evil  master,  it  can  be  a  splendid 
workman ;  the  minister  of  hell  may  become  a  servant  of 
light.  All  power  is  danger  except  as  we  link  it  to  some  high 
goal. — Roger   W.   Babson. 

"The  night  has   a  thousand   eyes, 
And  the  day  but  one. 
Yet  the  light  of  the  whole  world  dies 
With  the  setting  sun. 

"The  mind  has  a  thousand  eyes, 
And   the  heart  but  one, 
Yet  the  light  of  the  whole  life  dies 
When  love  is  done." 

— Francis  William  Bourdillon. 

A    PRAYER 

O  Almighty  God,  grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that  we  whose 
trust  is  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings,  may,  through  the 
help  of  thy  power,  overcome  all  evils  that  rise  up  against  us; 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord. — Roman  Breviary. 


148 


OUTLINE— SEVENTH   WEEK     THE   PERIL  TO 
STEWARDSHIP 

1.  Introductory:  Covetousness  Is  Idolatry. 

2.  First  Day :  Who  Are  Covetous  ? 

3.  Second    Day :    Covetousness    Misleading. 

4.  Third  Day :   Vices  that  Follow   Covetousness. 

5.  Fourth  Day:   Purpose  Affected  by  Covetousness. 

6.  Fifth  Day :  The  Day  of  Reckoning. 

7.  Sixth  Day :   Distorted  Vision. 

8.  Seventh  Day :  Saving  Rich  Men. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  o.  What,  if  any,  is  the  danger,  or  sin,  in  wanting  wealth, 

earning,  holding,   or  spending  money,   and  controlling 
property? 

b.  How  prevalent   is  covetousness   among  the  people  you 

know  ? 

c.  What  difference  does  it  make  whether  a  man  search  for 

gold  or  for  God? 

d.  Under  what  conditions  may  we  be  Christian  in  our  busi- 

ness and  social  life? 

e.  What  does  this  mean,  "Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treas- 

ures   on    earth"  ? 

2.  a.  What  persons  are  apt  to  be  covetous?     Why? 

b.  How  ma}'  a  nation  be  covetous?  a  poor  man?  one  with- 
out  income? 

3.  a.  Why  cannot  a  man  love  other  men  and   money   at   the 

same    time?      Are    we    ever    warranted    in    "loving" 
things  ? 
b.  Why  is  personal  affection  purifying? 

4.  a.  What    sins   naturally    follow   covetousness?     What   vir- 

tues? 
b.  In  what  way  must  consecration  be  final,  once   for  all? 
How  progressive,  daily,  hourly? 

149 


[VII-o]     THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

5.  a.  What  difference  does  covetousness  make  in  our  attitude 

toward   our  work?   toward   God?   toward  the   needy? 
toward  our  fellows?  toward  eternal  life? 
h.  Does    our    Father    desire    that    we    sacrifice?    practice 
asceticism?  have   abundance? 

6.  a.  Why    is    faithful    stewardship    an    evidence    of    sanity? 

sound   ethics  ?   morality  ? 
b.  Why  is  the  rich  farmer  called  "The  Rich  Fool"? 

7.  a.  What  is  luxury?  necessity?     Should  all  be  limited  to  a 

"living  wage"?    If  we  neglect  our  needy  fellow,  against 
whom  do  we  sin? 

8.  a.  What  is  it  "to  renounce  all,"  "full  consecration"?     How 

may  we  acknowledge  complete   reliance  on  God? 

b.  Why  does  the  Heavenly  Bridegroom  refuse  to  "marry 

for  money"? 

c.  Are  they  promised  prosperity  who  prove  their  faith  by 

their  paying? 

d.  Why  is  the  love  of  money  a  root  of  all  kinds  of  evil? 


EXERCISES 

1.  How  may  one  become  a   slave  of  his  possessions?     Out- 

hne  the  steps. 

2.  What  is  covetousness?     Can  you  define  it  satisfactorily? 

3.  Just    why    is    covetousness    "the    arch    enemy    of    Jesus' 

philosophy   of    stewardship"  ? 

4.  How  does  covetousness  lead  to  ambition? 

5.  How  may  we  discover  if  we  own,  or  are  owned?  belong  to 

the  Kingdom,   or  hold  a  church  membership  as  a  con- 
venience? 

6.  Why  does  a  Christian  steward  acknowledge  God's  owner- 

ship ? 

7.  Discuss  how  misuse  of  resources  defeats  the  coming  of  the 

Kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ. 

8.  Discuss   the  relation  of  selfishness  to  the  love  of  money. 

9.  Write  a  resume  of  the  teachings  of  this  chapter. 


150 


CHAPTER  VIII 


Stewardship  and  Property 

INTRODUCTORY 

The  Christianizing  of  property  is  probably  the  greatest 
task  that  confronts  the  church  of  the  twentieth  century. 
When  Horace  Bushnell  said,  "One  more  revival — only  one 
more — is  needed,  the  revival  of  Christian  stewardship,  the 
dedication  of  the  money  power  to  God,"  he  had  the  vision 
of  a  greater  task  than  most  readers  have  supposed.  Certainly, 
the  Christian  conquest  of  the  whole  realm  of  property,  busi- 
ness and  industry  was  in  his  vision.  Mr.  Clinton  Howard,  in 
tracing  the  stride  of  God  down  the  centuries,  has  selected  the 
great  events  of  the  last  five  centuries  as   follows : 

"The  great  event  of  the  i6th  Century  was  Discovery,  Geo- 
graphic  Emancipation. 

"The  great  event  of  the  17th  Century  was  the  Reforma- 
tion, Spiritual  Emancipation. 

"The  great  event  of  the  i8th  Century  was  Democracy, 
Political  Emancipation. 

"The  great  event  of  the  19th  Century  was  Abolition, 
Physical  Emancipation. 

"The  great  event  of  the  20th  Century  thus  far  has  been 
Prohibition,  Moral  Emancipation." 

What  will  be  the  next  great  event?  There  will  be  differ- 
ent answers  doubtless,  according  to  different  standards ;  but 
from  the  standpoint  of  the  Church  of  God,  the  greatest  task 
of  the  twentieth  century  must  be  the  emancipation  of  the 
church  from  the  pagan  ideas  of  property  which  seem  to  have 
been  accepted  by  the  successors  of  the  early  church,  as  a  part 
of  the  price  paid  for  the  official  recognition  of  Christianity 
by  the  Roman  Empire.     It  was  a  terrible  price ! 

Perhaps  the  most  drastic  result  of  Pentecost  was  the 
attainment  of  the  divine  ideal  of  property  as  a  stewardship. 

151 


[Vlll-i]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

The  story  is  to  be  found  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostles,  where  the  early  Christians  come,  not  only 
face  to  face  with  the  greatness  of  their  task,  but  with  the 
unspeakable  joy  of  spiritual  fellowship  with  their  Lord.  What 
matter  that  their  lives  are  threatened,  or  that  they  are  warned 
not  to  preach  any  more  in  the  Name?  What  matter  that 
persecution  is  growing  more  intense,  that  many  have  lost 
possessions  and  employment,  and  others  have  been  disowned 
by  relatives  and  forced  to  seek  shelter  elsewhere?  Singing 
in  their  hearts  is  the  enthusiasm  of  a  great  experience.  They 
are  intrusted  with  the  great  commission  of  spreading  abroad 
the  gospel  of  their  risen  Lord.  Only  one  difficulty  looms  on 
the  horizon — it  is  that  of  material  support.  How  are  the 
persecuted,  the  unemployed,  and  the  missionaries  to  be  sup- 
ported ?  Many  a  man  in  every  age  has  fallen  from  the  heights 
of  moral  and  spiritual  heroism  when  the  material  support  of 
himself  or  his  family  has  been  threatened;  but  this  was  not  the 
case  in  the  early  church.  The  Holy  Spirit  shook  the  room 
where  they  prayed ;  the  revival  fires  burned  more  intensely 
than  before;  and  in  the  heat  of  these  fires  came  forth  the 
vision  of  a  great  Brotherhood,  in  which  the  material  as  well 
as  the  spiritual  welfare  of  every  member  was  to  be  the  con- 
cern of  every  other  member — and  of  God.  Luke,  who  tells 
the  story  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  says,  "The  multi- 
tude of  them  that  believed  were  of  one  heart  and  soul,  and 
not  one  of  them  said  that  aught  of  the  things  that  he  pos- 
sessed was  his  own." 

Now,  this  did  not  mean  communism,  as  some  have  attempted 
to  say;  it  was  stewardship.  For  the  first  time  since  the  dawn 
of  creation  the  angels  of  heaven  looked  down  on  a  church 
that  gave  anything  like  a  perfect  acceptance  of  the  divine 
principle  of  God's  ownership  of  all  property.  Pentecost  had 
brought  to  light  what  God  had  been  trying  for  centuries  to 
instill  in  the  heart  of  his  church :  property  is  to  be  held  by 
individuals  as  a  stewardship  for  the  Brotherhood  of  the 
Kingdom.  This  is  as  far  removed  from  "communism"  as 
Bolshevism  is  from  Christianity.  When  "not  one  of  the 
disciples  said  that  aught  of  the  things  that  he  possessed  was 
his  own,"  this  meant  that  his  possessions  belonged  not  to  the 
Brotherhood  but  to  God.  There  was  evidently  no  attempt  on 
the  part  of  the  leaders  of  the  church  to  secure  from  its 
members  a  legal  right  to  personal  possessions   in   the  name 

152 


STEWARDSHIP  AXD  PROPERTY       [Vlll-i] 

of  Brotherhood.  "There  was  no  least  compulsion  among 
them,"  says  Dr.  Harvey  Reeves  Calkins,  "neither  was  there 
any  general  conversion  of  possessions  and  goods  into  money 
for  the  purpose  of  general  distribution,  but  only  *as  every 
man  had  need.'  This  last  statement  is  twice  repeated,  and 
wholly  discredits  various  attempts  to  make  the  New  Testa- 
ment sponsor  for  fantastic  schemes  of  property  division." 

The  monumental  truth  is  that  the  early  church  accepted  as 
practical  and  binding  the  divine  principle  that  property 
actually  belongs  to  a  personal  God,  who  gives  it  to  men  only 
in  trust.  As  an  early  church  writer  says,  "Our  possessions 
belong  to  God,  to  be  used  for  the  Brotherhood."  Referring 
now  to  the  present-day  Christianity,  Mr.  George  Innes  insists 
that  the  first  step  toward  Christianizing  property  must  be 
this  renunciation  of  ownership :  "Property  is  Christ's.  He 
created  it.  We  never  did.  It  is  his."  It  seems  inevitable 
that  we  must  conclude  that  this  ideal  is  practical  and  scrip- 
tural, and  that  the  church  of  to-day  must  attain  unto  it  before 
it  can  redeem  the  world. 

The  next  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  church  is  the  story 
of  a  great  apostasy.  About  the  year  2>22>y  after  long  cen- 
turies of  persecution,  Emperor  Constantine  was  baptized  a 
Christian,  and  Christianity  was  recognized  by  the  Roman 
Empire.  Then  came  compromise,  and  afterward  tragedy. 
One  thinks  of  Browning's  words: 

"Oh  the  little  more,  and  how  much  it  is, 
And  the  little  less,  and  what  worlds  away!" 

Surely  the  tragedies  cannot  be  overestimated  that  have 
resulted  from  the  lost  opportunity  of  Christianity,  when, 
flushed  with  its  great  victory  in  winning  recognition  at  home, 
it  comprorriised  its  pure  doctrine  concerning  property  to 
obey  the  lure  of  pagan  practices.  Bishop  Charles  Gore,  of 
Oxford,  refers  to  this  apostasy  as  the  "disappointing  fact 
that  when  Christianity  became  the  established  religion  it  did 
so  little  to  impress  the  idea  of  property  upon  the  law  and 
customs  of  the  later  empire." 

And  the  disappointment  here  mentioned  is  the  greater  be- 
cause the  Christians  of  the  first  three  centuries  did  keep  their 
lights  brightly  burning,  evidently  holding  fast  to  the  ques- 
tion of  the  early  church :  "But  whoso  hath  the  world's  goods, 

153 


[Vlll-i]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

and  beholdeth  his  brother  in  need,  and  shutteth  up  his  com- 
passion from  him,  how  doth  the  love  of  God  abide  in  him?" 
(i  John  3.  17.)  And  witness  some  of  the  words  of  those 
leaders  who  immediately  followed  the  apostles :  "For  if  we 
are  sharers  in  that  which  is  imperishable,  how  much  more  in 
things  perishable !"  This  latter  statement  concludes  a  dis- 
sertation on  stewardship  found  in  the  early  church  catechism 
called  "The  Two  Ways."    And  there  are  many  others  : 

"Rich  is  that  man  who  hath  much  money,  and  in  imitation 
of  God,  bestows  from  what  he  hath;  for  God  giveth  all 
things  to  all  for  his  own  creatures.  Understand  then,  ye 
rich,  that  ye  are  in  duty  bound  to  do  service,  having  re- 
ceived more  than  ye  yourselves  need.  Learn  that  to  others 
is  lacking  that  wherein  you  superabound.  Be  ashamed  of 
holding  fast  to  what  belongs  to  others,  imitate  God's  equity 
and  none  shall  be  poor"  {The  Preaching  of  Peter,  second 
century). 

"For  he  who  holds  possessions  as  God's  gifts,  both  minister-. 
ing  from  them  to  God  the  Giver,  unto  man's  salvation,  and 
knowing  that  he  possesses  them  for  the  brethren's  sake  rather 
than  his  own,  .  .  .  not  being  a  slave  of  what  he  possesses, 
and  not  carrying  them  about  in  his  soul,  but  ever  laboring 
at  some  good  and  divine  work,  ,  .  .  he  is  the  man  deemed 
blessed  by  the  Lord  and  called  poor  in  spirit,  .  .  .  not 
one  who  could  not  live  if  not  rich"   {Clement,  third  century). 

"We  who  mingle  in  mind  and  soul  have  no  hesitation  as 
to  fellowship  in  property."  [Christians  are]  "by  heavenly 
law  to  imitate  the  equality  of  God  the  Father.  .  .  .  After 
this  example  of  equality,  he  who  is  a  possessor  on  earth 
shares  his  returns  and  fruits  with  the  Brotherhood,  in  being 
by  his  free  bounties  not  only  open-handed  but  also  just,  is 
an  imitator  of  God  the  Father"    {Tertullian,  third  century). 

A  careful  reading  of  the  foregoing  quotations  from  promi- 
nent fathers  of  the  first  three  centuries  makes  it  evident  that 
the  church  of  those  years  had  not  fallen  away  from  the 
teachings  of  Jesus  and  Pentecost  concerning  God's  owner- 
ship of  wealth.  After  reviewing  the  whole  field  of  these 
utterances,  Dr.  Frank  Bartlett^  of  Oxford,  referring  to  the 
compromise    that    followed    the    Roman    conquest,    says :    "On 


^See  essay  on  Property,  Its  Duties    and  Its  Rights,  with  introduction  by  the 
Bishop  of  Oxford. 

154 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY       [Vlll-i] 

the  whole  a  great  chance  was  lost;  and  the  social  order  re- 
maining at  this  crucial  point  unadjusted  to  the  full  spirit  of 
the  gospel  of  the  Divine  Father  and  human  Brotherhood, 
came  to  react  adversely  on  Christian  ideals  of  property 
generally.  Broadly  speaking,  the  idea  of  property  as  a 
social  and  economic  institution  really  remained  pagan,  and 
so  far  as  embodied  in  the  law,  Roman  in  spirit  and  presup- 
positions." 

And  this  is  the  situation  also  at  the  present  time — the 
theory  of  property  that  still  maintains,  even  among  earnest 
churchmen,  is  dominantly  pagan.  The  question  is.  What  is 
the  church  going  to  do  about  it?  What  tragedies,  wars,  and 
bloodshed  might  have  been  averted  but  for  the  apostasy  of 
the  Romanized  Church !  What  will  be  the  tragedies  of  to- 
morrow unless  the  church  repents,  purifies  herself,  and  re- 
turns to  the  teachings  of  Christ  and  the  early  fathers?  Says 
Mr.  Stitt  Wilson,  "If  the  authority  of  Christ  stops  at  the 
bank  vaults  and  factory  gates  and  outside  the  storehouses  of 
the  profiteer,  then  the  religion  of  Christ  will  become  a  hissing 
and  a  byword."  These  words  may  be  exaggerated,  for  the 
church  has  changed  little  in  its  attitude  toward  property  for 
fifteen  centuries ;  but  certainly  a  new  day  is  dawning.  The 
masses  are  being  educated.  "A  greater  revolution  in  Chris- 
tian thinking  and  practice  than  the  reformation  or  the 
Evangelical  Revival  is  now  before  the  church,  for  the  su- 
preme issue  before  the  conscience  of  Christendom  is  the  just 
and  Christian  use,  control,  and  administration  of  property. 
Herein  is  the  bloody  angle  of  the  world's  confusion  and 
chaos."  It  is  not  difficult  to  understand  what  a  layman  in  the 
city  of  New  York  meant  when  he  recently  said,  'T  have  de- 
cided to  be  a  Christian  steward ;  for  I  am  persuaded  that 
the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  we  must  choose  between  an 
actual  ownership  by  the  Almighty  of  property  and  business, 
or  some  radical  socialism  and  state  ownership  which  revo- 
lutionary masses  will  force  upon  us  if  things  go  on  as  they 
are." 

These  are  some  of  the  signs  of  the  times.  The  Church 
dare  wait  not  very  much  longer  to  free  herself  from  the 
taint  of  her  ancient  apostasy.  The  ^time  has  come  to  con- 
sider carefully  every  item  in  Jesus'  teaching  concerning  prop- 
erty and  wealth. 


155 


[VIII-i]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

DAILY  READINGS 
Eighth  Week— First  Day 

First  of  all,  Jesus  taught  that  riches  are  not  an  evil  thing 
in  themselves.  Indeed,  to  accept  any  other  view  is  to  rebuke 
the  Almighty  for  having  placed  the  gold  and  silver  in  the 
mountains  and  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills.  When  the 
saints  of  the  Middle  Ages  fled  away  from  the  riches  of  the 
world,  they  were  simply  adding  to  the  problems  of  the  later 
Christians.  Wealth  is  not  to  be  despised,  but  Christianized. 
It  is  a  shame  to  bring  up  our  children  to  despise  the  rich 
man  because  he  is  rich ;  it  would  be  as  unfair  as  to  despise 
the  poor  man  because  he  is  poor.    Neither  is  right. 

Of  course  every  one  has  the  privilege  of  choosing  his  own 
profession,  but  when  the  ex-business  man  in  a  leading  maga- 
zine tells  the  story  of  his  disgust  for  the  chase  for  the  dollar 
under  the  caption  "Why  I  Gave  up  Business  to  Teach,"  one 
asks  himself,  "Would  it  not  have  been  a  braver  thing  to  have 
continued  in  business  in  order  to  demonstrate  that  the  pas- 
sion for  business  conquest  and  money-getting  can  be  domi- 
nated by  Christ's  passion  to  serve?"  When  this  comes  to 
pass,  property  becomes  a  mighty  asset  to  the  Kingdom.  Mr. 
B.  C.  Forbes^  tells  the  story  of  how  Mr.  James  B.  Duke,  with 
daring  energy,  boosted  the  sale  of  cigarettes  in  the  United 
States  from  200,000,000  to  1,000.000,000  a  year  in  something 
like  three  years,  and  invested  for  advertising  alone  the 
annual  sum  of  $800,000.  Not  satisfied  with  his  success  in 
America,  Mr.  Duke  went  to  England  and  captured  the 
tobacco  market  there.  If  such  achievements  can  be  made  by 
capital  in  the  name  of  the  gods  of  this  world,  what  mighty 
victories  for  the  Kingdom  are  awaiting  the  day  when  capital 
shall  be  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  Son  of  God. 

To  destroy  or  discount  capital  is  indeed  like  discounting 
the  value  of  the  timber  lands  that  store  up  the  rains  and 
snows  to  keep  running  the  mighty  rivers  when  the  summer 
heat  licks  up  their  flowing  waters.  American  industries  could 
not  long  keep  going  if  it  were  not  for  capital — neither  could 
the  missionary  enterprises  of  the  church.  In  to-day's  Scripture 
Jesus  gives  a  brief  but  significant  hint  of  the  eternal  value  of 
our  gold : 

^Men  Who  Are  Making  America,  by  B.  C.  Forbes. 
156 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-i] 

And  I  say  unto  you,  Make  to  yourselves  friends  by 
means  of  the  mammon  of  tmrighteousness ;  that,  when 
it  shall  fail,  they  may  receive  you  into  the  eternal  taber- 
nacles. He  that  is  faithful  in  a  very  little  is  faithful  also 
in  much:  and  he  that  is  unrighteous  in  a  very  little  is 
unrighteous   also    in   much.      .      . 

I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  from  the 
world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil 
one.  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the 
world.  Sanctify  them  in  the  truth:  thy  word  is  truth. 
As  thou  didst  send  me  into  the  world,  even  so  sent  I 
them  into  the  world.  And  for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  my- 
self, that  they  themselves  also  may  be  sanctified  in  truth. 
— Luke  i6.  9,  lo;  John  17.  15,  19. 

MEDITATION 

Jesus  continually  said,  "Be  thrifty  and  accumulate,  but 
do  it  in  the  best  interest  of  your  family,  your  friends,  your 
neighbors,  your  community,  your  countrymen  and  the  entire 
world,  that  all  may  be  healthier,  happier  and  more  prosper- 
ous." This  is  what  he  would  recommend.  By  so  doing  one 
would  make  enduring  investments  which  moth  and  rust  would 
not  corrupt  and  which  thieves  would  not  steal. — Roger  W. 
Babson. 

"Life  is  a  sheet  of  paper  white, 
Whereon  each  one  of  us  may  write 
His  word  or  two,  and  then  comes  night. 
Greatly  begin !     Though  thou  hast  time 
But  for  a  line,  be  that  sublime. 
Not  failure,  but  low  aim,   is  crime." 

— James  Russell  Lowell. 

A    PRAYER 

O  God,  we  heartily  pray  thee  to  send  thy  Holy  Spirit  into 
the  hearts  of  them  that  possess  the  grounds  and  pastures  of 
the  earth,  that  they,  remembering  themselves  to  be  thy  tenants, 
may  not  rack  or  stretch  out  the  rents  of  their  houses  or 
lands,  nor  yet  take  unreasonable  fines  or  moneys,  after  the 
manner  of  covetous  worldlings,  but  may  so  let  them  out  that 
the  inhabitants  thereof  may  be  able  to  pay  the  rents,  and  live, 
and  nourish  their  families,  and  remember  the  poor.  Give  them 
grace  also  to  consider  that  they  too  are  but  strangers  and 
pilgrims  in   this  world,   having   here  no    dwelling  place,   but 

157 


[VIII-2]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

seeking  one  to  come;  that  they,  remembering  the  short  con- 
tinuance of  this  life,  may  he  content  zvith  that  which  is  suiU- 
cient,  and  not  join  house  to  house  and  land  to  land,  to  the 
impoverishment  of  others,  hut  may  so  hehave  themselves  in 
letting  their  tenements,  lands  and  pastures,  that  after  this^ 
life  they  may  be  received  into  everlasting  habitations.  Amen. 
— Prayer  Book  of  Edward  VI. 

Eighth  Week — Second  Day 

While  property  and  capital  are  to  be  regarded  as  tools  by 
which  Christian  stewardship  is  to  work,  Jesus  taught  that 
a  love  of  the  tools  is  not  only  unwise  hut  absolutely  wicked. 
The  big  reason,  of  course,  is  that  a  love  of  the  tools  keeps  us 
from  remembering  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  given. 
Then  life  becomes  dwarfed  because  we  live  for  ''the  means" 
instead  of  "the  end"  of  our  existence.  Indeed,  love  of 
money  distorts  the  whole  vision  of  life,  and  leads  not  only 
to  wicked  practices  but  to  certain  alienation  from  God.  One 
of  the  most  needed  but  most  neglected  warnings  that  ever 
came  from  the  lips  of  Jesus  was,  "Lay  not  up  for  yourselves 
treasures  on  the  earth"  (Matt.  6.  19).  In  his  later  life  John 
Wesley  said :  "I  do  not  remember  that  in  three  score  years 
I  have  ever  heard  a  sermon  preached  on  the  danger  of 
riches — and  what  author  has  declared  it  from  the  press? 
I  have  frequently  touched  upon  it,  but  I  have  never  either 
published  or  preached  any  sermon  expressly  on  the  subject. 
It  is  high  time  I  should."  In  commenting  upon  these  words. 
Dr.  L.  O.  Hartman^  declared,  "The  church  has  come  very  near 
dishonesty  in  its  dealings  with  men  of  wealth.  .  .  .  Never 
before  has  the  church  brought  such  pressure  to  bear  upon 
men  of  large  resources  for  financial  assistance.  .  .  .  But 
have  Christian  leaders  been  zealous  enough  about  the  deepen- 
ing of  the  lives  of  their  benefactors,  or  in  a  straightforward 
denunciation  of  the  sins  of  the  wealthy?" 

But  they  that  are  minded  to  be  rich  fall  into  a  tempta- 
tion and  a  snare  and  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts, 
such  as  drown  men  in  destruction  and  perdition.  For 
the  love  of  money  is  a  root  of  all  kinds  of  evil:  which 
some  reaching  after  have  been  led  astray  from  the  faith, 

iln  Zion's  Herald,  March  22,  1922, 

158  ,1 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-3] 

and   have    pierced   themselves    through    with   many    sor- 
rows. 

But  thou,  O  man  of  God,  flee  these  things;  and  fol- 
low after  righteousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  patience, 
meekness.  Fight  the  good  fight  of  the  faith,  lay  hold  on 
the  life  eternal,  whereunto  thou  wast  called,  and  didst 
confess  the  good  confession  in  the  sight  of  many  wit- 
nesses.— I  Tim.  6.  9-12. 

MEDITATION 

He  just  cannot  write  his  name  to  large  checks.  He  does 
not  know  how.    He  has  never  learned.    His  hand  is  paralyzed. 

— William  E.  Sweet. 

He  had  died  dwarfed  had  he  not  broken  the  bonds  of 
mere  money-getting;  would  never  have  known  himself  had  he 
not  learned  how  to  spend  it;  and  ambition  itself  could  not 
have  shown  him  a  straighter  road  to  fame. — Woodrow  Wil- 
son, in   When  a  Man   Comes  to  Himself. 

"In  men  whom  men  condemn  as  ill 
I  find  so  much  of  goodness  still, 
In  men  whom  men  pronounce  divine 

I  find  so  much  of  sin  and  blot, 
I  do  not  care  to  draw  a  line 
Between  the  two,  where  God  is  not," 

— Joaquin  Miller. 
A  PRAYER 

May  God  the  Father,  and  the  Eternal  High  Priest  Jesus 
Christ  build  us  up  in  faith  and  truth  and  love;  and  grant  to 
us  our  portion  among  the  saints  with  all  those  who  believe 
in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  pray  for  all  saints,  for  kings 
and  rulers,  for  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of  Christ;  and  for 
ourselves  we  pray  that  our  fruit  may  abound,  and  that  we 
may    be    made   perfect    in    Christ    Jesus    our   Lord.     Amen. 

— Bishop  Polycarp,  85  a.  d. 

Eighth  Week— Third  Day 

Christian  stewardship  teaches  us  that  alongside  of  the  sin 

of  loving  money  is  the  companion  sin   of  thriftlessness  and 

waste.    When  Jesus  said,  "Gather  up  the  fragments,  that  noth- 

^  ing  be  lost,"  he  was  issuing  a  warning  against  the   careless 

159 


[VIII-3]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

use  of  anything  which  a  needy  humanity  can  use.  Thriftless- 
ness  is  not  generally  the  sin  of  the  producer  of  wealth.  More 
often  it  is  the  sin  of  the  poor,  and  the  children  of  the  rich. 
If  Mr.  Herbert  Hoover  is  right  in  his  surmise  that  the  United 
States  spends  a  million  dollars  a  day  in  superfluous  eating 
in  hotels  and  restaurants,  it  is  probably  true  that  many  times 
this  amount  is  wasted  by  those  who  cannot  afford  to  eat 
in  such  places. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  bases  of  great  fortunes 
were  laid  by  men  of  thrift.  Mr.  George  Eastman,  of  kodak 
fame,  began  work  at  three  dollars  a  week,  and  saved  thirty- 
seven  dollars  and  fifty  cents  the  first  year.  By  virtue  of 
thrifty  habits  he  saved  the  four  thousand  dollars  which  gave 
him  his  chance  when  opportunity  beckoned.  Out  of  fifty  of 
America's  foremost  business  and  financial  leaders  to-day, 
twenty-four  were  born  poor  and  seventeen  were  born  in 
moderate  circumstances.  Every  one  of  them  started  with 
habits  of  thrift.  Says  Mr.  Babson,  "Economic  studies  show 
that  ninety-five  per  cent  of  the  employers  are  employers  be- 
cause they  systematically  saved  money."  He  continues,  "Any 
man  who  systematically  saves  money  from  early  youth  auto- 
matically becomes  an  employer.  These  same  studies  show 
that  ninety-five  per  cent  of  the  wage-earners  are  wage- 
earners  because  they  have  systematically  spent  their  money 
as  fast  as  they  have  earned  it.  They  of  necessity  remain 
wage-earners." 

It  is  apparent  that  if  Jesus  were  on  earth  to-day  he  would 
urge  every  individual  and  family  to  maintain  a  budget,  break 
habits  of  wastefulness,  and  keep  expenditures  well  within 
earnings.  Christian  stewardship  has  not  only  to  do  with  the 
acquiring  of  property,  but  with  wise  saving  and  careful  spend- 
ing. Consecrated  money  goes  too  far  in  the  Kingdom  con- 
quest for  Christians  to  be  careless  in  the  use  of  it. 

Jesus  therefore  lifting  up  his  eyes,  and  seeing  that  a 
great  multitude  cometh  unto  him,  saith  unto  Philip, 
Whence  are  we  to  buy  bread,  that  these  may  cat?  .  .  . 
One  of  his  disciples,  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's  brother, 
saith  unto  him.  There  is  a  lad  here  who  hath  five  barley 
loaves,  and  two  fishes:  but  what  are  these  among  so 
many?  ...  So  the  men  sat  down,  in  number  about  five 
thousand.  Jesus  therefore  took  the  loaves ;  and  having 
given  thanks,  he  distributed  to  them  that  were  set  down; 

i6o 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-4] 

likewise  also  of  the  fishes  as  much  as  they  would.  And 
when  they  were  filled,  he  saith  unto  his  disciples,  Gather 
up  the  broken  pieces  which  remain  over,  that  nothing  be 
lost. — John  6.  5,  8-12. 

g  MEDITATION 

^     Get  all  you  can ;  save  all  you  can ;  give  all  you  can. — John 
Wesley. 

For  upwards  of  eighty-six  years  I  have  kept  my  accounts 
exactly.  I  will  not  attempt  it  any  longer,  being  satisfied  with 
the  continual  conviction  that  I  save  all  I  can,  and  give  all 
I  can,  that  is,  all  I  have. — Last  entry  in  Wesley's  Journal. 

"Across    the    fields    of   yesterday 

He  sometimes   comes  to  me. 
A  little  lad  just  back   from  play — 
The  lad  I  used  to  be. 

"And   yet   he    smiles   so    wistfully. 
Once    he    has    crept   within, 
I  wonder  if  he  hopes  to  see 
The  man  I  might  have  been." 

— Thomas  S.  Jones,  Jr. 

A  PRAYER 

Father  of  all,  wilt  thou  teach  me  how  to  promote  the  well- 
being  of  thy  children f  If  my  outlook  be  selfish,  wilt  thou 
make  it  brotherly?  May  my  life  be  like  the  house  of  many 
mansions,  with  room  for  the  entertainment  of  my  brethren. 
Amen. — Bishop  Wilbur  Patterson  Thirkield. 


Eighth  Week— Fourth  Day 

How  much  money  can  a  man  have  and  still  be  a  Chris- 
tian? Or,  in  terms  of  citizenship,  how  much  property  can 
a  man  have  and  still  be  a  good  citizen?  When  the  Chris- 
tian seeks  an  answer  to  questions  like  these,  he  is  confronted 
with  two  radically  different  theories.  On  the  one  hand,  poli- 
tical communism  says:  "All  property  should  be  held  by  the 
state.  Private  property  should  be  abolished."  On  the  other 
hand,  certain  capitalists  insist  that  one  may  hold  all  the  money 
he  can  get.  They  point  to  the  fact  that  the  richest  man  in 
the   world    is   a   professing    Christian,    that    the    majority    of 

161 


IVIII-4]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

millionaries  are  professing  Christians;  and  conclude  with 
the  argument  that  if  you  limit  a  man's  freedom  to  acquire, 
you  take  away  his  motive  to  produce.  Which  of  these  theories 
is  right?  Neither  one.  The  Bible  gives  sanction  to  neither 
of  these  radical  propositions.  In  the  "Introductory"  to  this 
chapter  we  have  already  seen  that  the  so-called  "communism" 
of  the  early  church  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  com- 
munism of  interests  in  Christian  brotherhood,  leading  mem- 
bers to  share  with  the  brethren  their  private  property  as  there 
was  need.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
teach  that  God  does  sanction  the  institution  of  private  prop- 
erty, but  with  the  qualification  that  it  be  "for  use"^  and  not 
"for  power."  No  man  has  really  a  right  to  hold  more  for 
himself  than  he  needs.  Bishop  Charles  Gore  says  on  this 
point :  "Property  'for  use' — what  a  man  needs  for  the  true 
freedom,  what  even  at  the  utmost  he  is  able  to  use — is  a  very 
limited  quantity  on  the  whole.  Very  speedily  as  it  expands, 
it  becomes  'property  for  power';  it  becomes  at  last  the  almost 
unmeasured  control  by  the  few  rich,  not  of  any  amount  of 
unconscious  material,  but  of  other  men  whose  opportunity 
to  live  and  work  and  eat  becomes  subject  to  their  will.  There 
is  where  property  has  so  manifestly  gone  wrong." 

Accordingly,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Scripture,  a  person  has 
a  right  to  all  the  private  property  he  needs  for  the  welfare 
of  himself  and  his  family.  Beyond  that  he  has  no  moral 
right  to  any  property  that  he  will  not  use  as  a  stewardship  for 
the  good  of  the  community.  The  justice  of  this  is  seen  when 
one  remembers  that  property  gets  its  value  from  the  com- 
munity. Dr.  Poteat  strikingly  illustrates  this  by  saying :  "If 
Mr.  Carnegie  when  he  sold  his  business  to  the  United  States 
Steel  Corporation  had  taken  his  $500,000,000  in  a  single  certi- 
ficate and  started  upon  a  voyage  around  the  world,  so  long 
as  he  was  in  society,  that  is,  a  member  of  the  ship's  passengers, 
he  could  be  said  to  have  wealth.  But  let  the  ship  be  wrecked 
and  let  Mr.  Carnegie  find  himself  on  an  island  in  the  South 
Pacific,  and  his  $500,000,000  would  be  worth  exactly  nothing." 

It  is  perfectly  in  accord  with  Christianity  that  the  govern- 
ment should  take  a  percentage  of  the  income  of  its  citizens, 
and,  indeed,  an  ever  larger  percentage  as  the  incomes  increase, 
for  community  uses.     In  the  ancient  story  of  the  giving  of 

'See  Property,  Its  Duties  amd  Rights,  introductory  essay  by  Charles  Gore, 
Bishop  of  Oxford. 

162 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-4] 

the  manna  to  the  children  of  Israel  we  find  valuable  instruc- 
tion as  to  where  private  property  begins  and  ends  : 

Then  said  Jehovah  unto  Moses,  Behold,  I  will  rain 
bread  from  heaven  for  you;  and  the  people  shall  go  out 
and  gather  a  day's  portion  every  day,  that  I  may  prove 
them,  whether  they  will  walk  in  my  law,  or  not.  .  .  . 
And  when  the  dew  that  lay  was  gone  up,  behold,  upon 
the  face  of  the  wilderness  a  small  round  thing,  small 
as  the  hoar-frost  on  the  ground.  And  when  the  children 
of  Israel  saw  it,  they  said  one  to  another.  What  is  it? 
for  they  knew  not  what  it  was.  And  Moses  said  unto 
them,  It  is  the  bread  which  Jehovah  hath  given  you  to 
eat.  .  .  .  And  Moses  said  unto  them.  Let  no  man  leave 
of  it  till  the  morning.  Notwithstanding  they  hearkened 
not  unto  Moses;  but  some  of  them  left  of  it  until  the 
morning,  and  it  bred  worms,  and  became  foul:  and  Moses 
was  wroth  with  them. 

And  they  gathered  it  morning  by  morning,  every  man 
according  to  his  eating. — Exod.  16.  4,  14,  15,  19-21. 

MEDITATION 

The  Christians  were  a  persecuted  body.  They  had  no 
power  of  controlling  the  law  of  the  society  of  the  empire, 
but  within  their  own  voluntary  society  the  claim  of  the 
Brotherhood  was  paramount.  The  scoffer  Lucian  notes  this 
as  their  characteristic:  "It  is  incredible  with  what  alacrity 
these  people  support  and  defend  their 'common  interest — the 
interest  of  any  of  their  number — and  spare  nothing  in  short 
to  promote  it." — Bishop  Charles  Gore. 

"If    I    can    stop   one   heart    from   breaking 
I  shall  not  live  in  vain ; 
If  I   can  ease  one  life  from   aching, 

Or  cool   one  pain, 
Or  help  one  fainting  robin  into  his  nest  again, 
I  shall  not  live  in  vain." 

— Emily  Dickinson. 
A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  the  Lord  whose  ways  are  right,  keep  us  in  thy 
mercy  from  lip-service  and  empty  forms;  from  having  a  name 
that  we  live,  hut  being  dead.  Help  us  to  worship  thee  by 
righteous  deeds  and  lives  of  holiness;  that  our  prayer  also 

163 


IVIII-5]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

may  he  set  forth  in  thy  sight  as  the  incense,  and  the  lifting 
lip  of  our  hands  he  as  an  evening  sacrifice.  Amen. — Christina 
G.  Rossetti. 


Eighth  Week— Fifth  Day 

"I    saw   the    spires    of    Oxford 

As  I  was  passing  by, 
The   gray   spires    of   Oxford 

Against  the  pearl-gray  sky. 
My  heart  was  with  the  Oxford  men 

Who  went  away  to  die." 

Among  the  very  few  good  things  that  came  out  of  the  Great 
War  was  a  universal  realization  of  the  stewardship  of  citizen- 
ship— that  the  rights  of  private  property  and  private  life 
are  always  secondary  to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  This 
is  the  lesson  taught  by  Miss  W.  M.  Letts  in  her  excellent 
poem.  However  much  we  magnify  our  private  life  in  time 
of  play,  when  war  comes  the  truth  appears : 

"The  hoary  colleges  looked  down 
On    careless    boys    at    play, 
But  when  the  hugle  sounded  war 
They  put  their  games  away. 

"They  lef4  the   peaceful   river, 

To  seek  a  bloody  sod; 
They  gave  their  merry  youth  away 
For  country  and  for  God." 

The  first  thing  to  remember  about  the  rights  of  private  prop- 
erty is  that,  while  insisted  upon  in  the  Bihle,  these  are  always 
made  secondary  to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  The 
second,  and  even  more  fundamental,  fact  is  the  claim  of 
God  taught  by  the  law  and  the  prophets  and  by  Jesus  and  his 
disciples  that  the  rights  of  all  private  property  are  suhject 
to  the  sanction  of  God,  the  only  absolute  owner.  This  is  the 
meaning  of  David's  prayer  at  the  close  of  to-day's  study. 
And,  indeed,  this  is  the  insistence  of  Jesus  when  he  speaks 
those  sobering  words  denying  discipleship  to  those  who  are 
not   ready  to   renounce   "all   that  he  hath."     This  is   not   a 

164 


STEWARDSHIP  AXD  PROPERTY      [VIII-5] 

command,  as  some  have  thought,  to  renounce  all  property  and 
possessions ;  rather  it  is  a  charge  to  renounce  personal  owner- 
ship in  favor  of  God's  ownership.  Given  Christian  soldiers 
who  are  heroic  enough  to  live  this  life  of  stewardship,  the 
King  can  build  his  towers  of  the  Church,  and  with  a  Gideon 
band  can  put  to  flight  twice  the  number  of  the  enemy. 

Whosoever  doth  not  bear  his  own  cross,  and  come 
after  me,  cannot  be  my  disciple.  For  which  of  you,  de- 
siring to  build  a  tower,  doth  not  first  sit  down  and  count 
the  cost,  whether  he  have  wherewith  to  complete  it?  Lest 
haply,  when  he  hath  laid  a  foundation,  and  is  not  able 
to  finish,  all  that  behold  begin  to  mock  him,  saying.  This 
man  began  to  build,  and  was  not  able  to  finish.  Or  what 
king,  as  he  goeth  to  encoimter  another  king  in  war,  will 
not  sit  down  first  and  take  counsel  whether  he  is  able 
with  ten  thousand  to  meet  him  that  cometh  against  him 
with  twenty  thousand?  Or  else,  while  the  other  is  yet 
a  great  way  off,  he  sendeth  an  ambassage,  and  asketh  con- 
ditions of  peace.  So  therefore  whosoever  he  be  of  you 
that  renounceth  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  dis- 
ciple.— Luke  14.  27-33. 

MEDITATION 

For  God  provides  the  good  things  of  the  world  to  serve 
the  needs  of  nature,  by  the  labors  of  the  plowmkn.  the  skill 
and  pains  of  the  artisan,  and  the  dangers  and  traffic  of  the 
merchant:  these  men  are,  in  their  calling,  the  ministers  of 
the  Divine  Providence  and  the  stewards  of  creation,  and 
servants  of  the  great  family  of  God.  ...  So  that  no  man 
can  complain  that  his  calling  takes  him  off  from  religion ; 
his  calling  itself,  and  his  very  worldly  employment  in  honest 
trades  and  offices,  is  a  serving  of  God. — Jeremy  Taylor. 

"I  have  a   rendezvous   with   Death 

At   some  disputed  barricade; 
When  Spring  comes  back  with  rustling  shade 
And  apple  blossoms  fill  the  air — 
I  have  a  rendezvous  with  death. 
When  Spring  brings  backs  blue  days  and  fair 

And  I  to  my  pledged  word   am  true, 
I  shall  not  fail  that  rendezvous." 

— Alan  Seeger. 
165 


[VIII-6]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  PRAYER 

Thine,  O  Jehovah,  is  the  greatness  and  the  power.  .  .  . 
and  the  majesty:  for  all  that  is  in  the  heavens  and  in  the 
earth  is  thine;  thine  is  the  kingdom,  O  Jehovah,  and  thou  art 
exalted,  as  head  above  all.  Both  riches  and  honor  come  of 
thee,  and  thou  rulest  over  all;  and  in  thy  hand  it  is  to  make 
great,  and  to  give  strength  unto  all.  .  .  .  But  who  am  I, 
and  what  is  my  people,  that  we  should  he  able  to  offer  so  will- 
ingly after  this  sortf  for  ail  things  come  of  thee,  and  of  thine 
own  have  we  given  thee.  .  .  .  O  Jehovah  our  God,  all  this 
store.  .  .  .  Cometh  of  thy  hand,  and  is  all  thine  own.  .  .  . 
O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  our  fathers,  keep  this  forever  in  the 
imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  the  heart  of  thy  people,  and 
prepare  their  heart  unto  thee.  .  .  . — i  Chron.  29.  11,  12, 
14,  16,  18. 

Eighth  Week— Sixth  Day 

A  decidedly  important  teaching  of  Christian  stewardship  is 
that  property  is  always  secondary  to  personality.  Just  as  the 
"Sabbath  was  made  for  man  and  not  man  for  the  Sabbath," 
so  property  was  made  for  man,  and  not  otherwise.  It  is 
necessary  to  have  a  clear  conviction  as  to  these  relative  values : 
Two  men  were  standing  on  the  pier  together  as  the  steamer 
was  leaving  the  dock.  "That  steamer,"  said  one,  with  deep 
satisfaction  in  his  voice,  "is  carrying  a  ten  thousand  dollar 
missionary  equipment  for  me  to  serve  the  Chinese."  "That 
ship  is  carrying  my  son  for  life  service  in  China,"  said  the 
second.  Then  said  the  first,  "Oh,  I  have  given  nothing  in 
comparison  with  what  you  have  given  !"^ 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  theoretically  men  recognize  the 
supreme  value  of  human  personalities,  so  great  is  the  human 
passion  for  profit  that  even  to-day,  after  a  generation  of 
education  on  this  subject,  most  of  our  industries  are  con- 
ducted primarily  for  the  making  of  money  and  not  for  the 
making  of  manhood  or  the  conservation  of  life.  This  state- 
ment is  by  no  means  exaggerated.  When  life-insurance 
statistics  show  that  industrial  wage-earners  have  an  expec- 
tancy of  life  hardly  half  as  great  as  that  of  the  leisure  classes, 
it  is  evident  that  industry  is  too  much  stained  with  the  life 

^The  Conor egationalist.  November  17,  1921,  p.  627. 
166 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-6] 

blood  of  the  workers.  Here  is  a  fact  that  Christianity  must 
face  if  we  are  to  keep  faith  with  Christ  and  his  children.  "We 
use  up  one  batch  of  men  as  fast  as  we  can,  and  when  they 
are  done  we  throw  them  aside  and  get  another."  According 
to  Dr.  Harry  F.  Ward/  this  was  the  regretful  admission  of 
one  big  business  leader  concerning  the  effect  of  his  industry 
upon  the  lives  of  immigrant  workers.  Such  a  fact  opens 
new  territory  for  the  home  missionary  endeavor  of  the 
churches. 

While  the  above  incident  may  be  unusual,  nevertheless  a 
study  of  our  present  industrial  order  will  reveal  volumes  of 
facts  terrible  enough  to  warrant  a  repetition  of  the  voice  that 
once  said,  "Thy  brother's  blood  crieth  unto  me  from  the 
ground."  The  lesson  for  all  this  must  be  that  property  was 
made  for  man,  and  not  man  for  property;  that  property  is 
fundamentally  nothing  more  than  a  stewardship  to  be  used 
for  the  welfare  of  humanity,  for  whom  God  made  it  to 
exist.  In  God's  mind,  the  one  great  end  of  all  creation  was 
the  human  soul. 

Is  not  the  life  more  than  the  food,  and  the  body  than 
the  raiment?  Behold  the  birds  of  the  heaven,  that  they 
sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns;  and 
your  heavenly  Father  feedeth  them.  Are  not  ye  of  much 
more  value  than  they?  .  .  .  Consider  the  lilies  of  the 
field,  how  they  grow;  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin: 
yet  I  say  unto  you  that  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory 
was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  these.  But  if  God  doth  so 
clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is,  and  to- 
morrow is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he  not  much  more 
clothe  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith? — Matt.  6.  25,  26;  28-30. 

MEDITATION 

Certainly,  in  our  own  little  sphere  it  is  not  the  most  active 
people  to  whom  we  owe  the  most.  Among  the  common  peo- 
ple whom  we  know  it  is  not  necessarily  those  who  are  the  busi- 
est, not  those  who,  meteorlike,  are  ever  at  the  rush  on  some 
visible  charge  for  work.  It  is  the  Hves,  like  the  stars,  which 
simply  throw  down  on  us  the  calm  light  of  their  bright  and 
faithful  being  upon  which  we  look  and  out  of  which  we 
gather  the  deepest  calm  and  courage. — Phillips  Brooks. 


^The  Gospel  for  a  Working  World,  Harry  F.  Ward,  chapter  I. 
167 


[VIII-7]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"I  would  be  true,  for  there  are  those  who  trust  me; 
I  would  be  pure,  for  there  are  those  who  care; 
I  would  be  strong,  for  there  is  much  to  suffer; 
I  would  be  brave,  for  there  is  much  to  dare; 

"I  would  be  friend  of  all — the  foe,  the  friendless; 

I  would  be  giving,  and   forget  the  gift; 
I  would  be  humble,   for  I  know  my  weakness ; 
I  would  look  up,  and  laugh,  and  love,  and  live." 
— Harriet  Arnold  Walter. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  my  lord,  "how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the 
earth/'  Still  sweeter,  Lord,  to  me:  how  excellent  is  thy  name 
in  my  own  soul.  Abide  with  me  this  day;  so  shall  my  every 
labor  be  a  song,  and  from  my  life  shall  come  a  strength  and  a 
cheer  to  bless  the  comrades  of  my  tail.  Make  me  the  steward 
of  thy  grace  to-day,  for  Jesus'  sake.    Amen. 


Eighth  Week— Seventh  Day 

When  Paul  instructed  Titus  that  Bishops  of  the  church 
must  "be  blameless  as  God's  stewards;  .  .  .  not  greedy  of 
filthy  lucre"  (Titus  i.  7),  he  was  simply  referring  to  Christ's 
standard.  The  Christian  must  not  love  money.  Indeed,  Jesus 
taught  that  the  first  test  of  sincere  stevuardship  is  the  money 
test;  or,  as  a  skeptical  physician  phrased  it,  "You  can  tell  the 
interest  of  anyone  in  anything  by  the  way  he  puts  his  money 
into  it";  and,  as  a  churchman  said,  "Money-giving  is  the  truest 
index  we  have  of  a  vital  human  interest."  Both  of  these 
quotations  seem  to  agree  with  Christ's  memorable  words,  "If 
therefore  ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  the  unrighteous  mam- 
mon, who  will  commit  to  your  trust  the  true  riches?"  (Luke 
16.  II.)  Here  is  the  truth  that  we  should  more  honestly  hold 
up  to  the  light  in  a  day  when  mammon  is  the  greatest  enemy 
of  the  church.  It  seems  evident  that  the  use  the  Christian 
makes  of  his  money  will  determine  his  final  judgment.  In 
to-day's  Scripture  notice  the  words  with  which  James  de- 
nounces the  holders  of  unused  wealth :  "Your  gold  and  silver 
is  cankered,  and  the  rust  of  them  shall  be  a  witness  against 
you."  Evidently,  the  writer  has  in  his  mind  those  who  have 
disregarded  Jesus'  command  not  to  lay  up  surplus  riches  for 

168  I 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-7J 

themselves  where  rust  gathers.  A  comparison  of  these  two 
passages  of  Scripture  should  startle  the  whole  church  into  a 
more  serious  consideration  of  the  scriptural  doctrine  of 
property,  especially  at  this  hour  when  the  world's  terrible 
need  is  the  opportunity  of  the  Christian : 

Come  now,  ye  rich,  weep  and  howl  for  your  miseries 
that  are  coming  upon  you.  Your  riches  are  corrupted, 
and  your  garments  are  moth-eaten.  Your  gold  and  your 
silver  are  rusted;  and  their  rust  shall  be  for  a  testimony 
against  you,  and  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  fire.  Ye  have 
laid  up  your  treasure  in  the  last  days.     .     .     . 

Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his  right  hand, 
Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world: 
for  I  was  hungry,  and  ye  gave  me  to  eat;  I  was  thirsty, 
and  ye  gave  me  drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me 
in;  naked,  and  ye  clothed  me;  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited 
me;  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  imto  me. — James  5. 
I,  3;  Matt.  25.  34-36. 

MEDITATION 

We  face  the  tragedy  of  a  dying  world,  and  the  peril  of  a 
nation  rich  beyond  all  compare,  called  of  God  to  service  and 
hesitating  in  her  choice  between  a  life  of  sacrificial  endeavor 
and  one  of  selfish  indulgence.  This  constitutes  an  emergency 
unparalleled  in  all  the  Christian  centuries. — S.  Earl  Taylor. 

"It  is  not  the  deed  we  do, 

Though    the    deed    be   never   so    fair — 
But  the  love  that  the  dear  Lord  looketh  for, 
Hidden   with  holy   care 
In  the  heart  of  the  deed  so  fair. 

''The  love  is  the  priceless   thing. 

The   treasure   our    treasure    must    hold, 
Or  ever  the  Lord  will  take  the  gift, 
Or  tell  the  worth  of  the  gold. 
By  the  love  that  cannot  be  told." 

— Harriet   McEwen   Kimball. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  turn  thy  light  this  morning  upon  any  unconsecrated 
corner  of  my  heart.    Help  me  to  know  myself.    Too  readily 

169 


[VIII-7]    THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

am  I  able  to  see  the  faults  of  others.  Take,  I  beseech  thee, 
the  "beam  from  out  mine  own  eyes,"  that  I  may  see  myself  as 
thou  canst  see  me.  Search  thou  my  heart;  discover  to  me 
the  hidden  idols;  help  me  to  tear  them  down;  O  thou  blessed 
Redeemer,  "break  down  every  idol  throne,  reign  supreme  and 
reign  alone." — Amen. 


170 


OUTLINE— EIGHTH   WEEK.     STEWARDSHIP 
AND   PROPERTY 

1.  Introductory:    Christianizing   Property. 

2.  First  Day :  Possessions  Not  Evil. 

3.  Second  Day:  The  Love  of  Aloney. 

4.  Third    Day:    Thriftlessness. 

5.  Fourth  Day:   Possessions   for   Service,  or   Power? 

6.  Fifth  Day :  The  Individual  and  the  Community. 

7.  Sixth   Day:   Discipleship  and   Possessions. 

8.  Seventh  Day:  The  First  Test  of  Stewardship. 


QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  What  do  we  mean  by  "Christianizing  property"?     How 

do  you  Christianize  your  possessions? 

b.  What  pagan  conceptions  of  property  did  the   Christian 

Church  accept  from  the  Roman  state? 

c.  What  is  the  relation  of  a  man  to  his  possessions  coming 

out  of  the  Pentecostal  experience? 

d.  Can  we  be   Christians   without  brotherhood? 

e.  Do  you  consider  that  all  material  values  belong  to  God? 

What   do   you   do   about   it? 

/.  What  changes  have  appeared  in  the  church's  attitude 
toward  money,  wealth,  wages,  property,  and  income 
since  the  time  of  Constantine? 

g.  What  relation  is  there  between  the  attempted  destruc- 
tion of  the  Greek  Church  in  Russia  and  the  pagan 
attitude  toward  property? 

2.  a.  Why  is  capital,  stored-up  value,  necessary  to  the  King- 

dom? 

3.  a.  How  may  those  who  become   rich   avoid   "foolish   and 

hurtful  lusts"?     Distinguish  between  "giving  up"  and 
"administering"  property. 
b.  What  are  the  dangers  arising  from  riches? 

171 


[VIII-o]   THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

4.  a.  How  may  the  thriftless  avoid  wasteful  and   dissipating 

habits?     Overwork?     Be  miserly?     Faithful   steward- 
ship? 
h.  Has  the  personal  or  family  budget  anything  to  do  with 
religion  ? 

5.  a.  May  a  man  be  a  better  citizen  or  Christian   if   he  has 

property?  no  property?  much  property?  little  property? 
h.  What  is  the  relation  between  property  and  freedom? 

c.  Can   you    distinguish   between   property    "for    use"    and 

property  "for  power"? 

d.  Why  is  it  wrong  to  dodge  taxes? 

6.  a.  Harmonize    the    subservience    of    the    individual    to    the 

community  with  true  democracy. 
h.  Does  divine  supremacy  prove  the  necessity  for  autocracy, 

or  pave  the  way  for  freedom  and  democracy? 
c.  What  is  Jesus'  property  test  for  his   followers? 

7.  a.  Name  the  things  you  regard  as  superior  to  personality^ 
h.  Can  we  and  our  nation  be  economically  sound  if  profits, 

income,  property,  and  wealth  are  held  superior  to  the 
workers? 

c.  What  is  the  purpose  of  property?     Why  do  you  desire 

property? 

d.  How  may  a  Christian  grow? 

8.  a.  What   evidence   do  you   find   that  a   man   must  use  his 

possessions  righteously  and  unselfishly,  in  the  Bible? 
in  experience?  in  history? 


EXERCISES 

1.  Why  is  property  an  obstacle  to  brotherhood?     Is  it  neces- 

sarily so? 

2.  What  is  the   Christian   conception  of    "property"?     When 

and  where  has  it  been  accepted? 

3.  How  may  money-making  ability  be  enlisted  for  the  King- 

dom? 

4.  How  would  you  use  money  to  produce  eternal  values? 

5.  Write  a  paragraph  on  the  virtue  of  thrift? 

6.  What    evidence   do   you    find    of   Jesus'   economy?    of    his 

generosity? 

172 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  PROPERTY      [VIII-o] 

7.  When  is  one  warranted   in  allowing  others  to  administer 

the  values  which  God  has  intrusted  to  him? 

8.  What  place  has  "life  service"   in   Christian   stewardship? 

9.  Why  have  Christians  been  so  reluctant  to  receive  at  face 

value  the  teachings  of  Jesus  regarding  property? 

10.  Make  outline  of  the  teaching  of  this  chapter. 


173 


CHAPTER  IX 


Business  and  Stewardship 


INTRODUCTORY 

Next  to  the  task  of  bringing  the  church  back  to  Christ's 
teaching  concerning  the  stewardship  of  property,  the  most 
important  work  before  the  twentieth  century  is  the  Chris- 
tianizing of  industry. 

As  Bacon  said,  "Business  should  be  conducted  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  to  the  welfare  of  the  worker." 

There  are  at  least  two  reasons  why.  In  the  first  place,  no 
field  of  human  endeavor  has  suffered  more  from  the  early 
apostasy  from  Jesus'  teachings  of  property  than  has  industry; 
and,  second,  Christianity  cannot  conquer  the  world  until  the 
whole  of  human  life  has  been  redeemed.  Concerning  the 
first,  there  is  no  doubt  that  human  greed  has  caused  more 
misery  and  more  wars  than  any  other  one  thing.  If  the 
church  had  refused  to  compromise  with  pagan  ideas  of 
property,  how  much  of  "man's  inhumanity  to  man"  might  have 
been  avoided ! 

Concerning  the  complete  conquest  of  the  whole  of  human 
life,  Christianity  cannot  halt  before  the  gods  of  industry  and 
remain  Christian.  We  are  stewards  of  the  total  task.  Jesus 
demands  the  conquest  of  every  phase  of  life.  Business  and 
religion  cannot  be  separated.  The  demand  that  the  church 
forget  to  be  concerned  with  the  problems  of  industry  does 
not  originate  in  heaven. 

Christianity  must  be  concerned  with  industry  because,  like 
his  Lord,  the  Christian  must  be  concerned  with  humanity 
— and  especially  where  humanity  is  in  distress.  And  no 
person  knowing  the  facts  will  dispute  the  statement  that 
the  world  of  industry  "is  a  world  of  distress,  selfish  conflict, 
almost  of  anarchy  to-day."  On  every  hand  men  are  asking 
the  way  out.     The  severest  test  that   faces   Christianity  lies 

174 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-i] 

here.  Mr.  Will  Irwin^  in  his  volume,  The  Next  War,  says, 
"Two  great  tasks  lie  before  humanity  and  the  race  of  the 
twentieth  century."  One  of  them  he  indicates  as  the  "final 
elimination  of  war."  The  other,  he  says,  is  to  "put  under 
the  control  of  true  morals  and  of  democracy  the  great  power 
of  human  production  which  came  in  the  nineteenth  century." 
This  can  mean  nothing  else  but  the  Christianizing  of  industry, 
and  the  recognition  of  business  as  a  stewardship. 

Indeed,  the  Christianizing  of  business  may  well  be  re- 
garded as  the  twin  problem  with  the  elimination  of  war,  for 
there  can  be  no  ultimate  hope  of  warring  successfully  against 
war  until  we  can  Christianize  property  and  industry.  Return- 
ing from  the  Orient  in  1921,  Dr.  Harry  Emerson  Fosdick, 
speaking  to  this  point,  indicates  the  world's  peril  of  business 
which  has  for  its  dominating  motive  the  getting  of  profits. 
He  asks :  "Have  Western  nations  clean  hands  themselves  when 
they  condemn  Japan's  policy?  .  .  .  We  have  all  got  to 
repent  together.  Selfishness  has  controlled  the  goals  of 
Japan  and  Western  nations  in  China,  which  has  been  re- 
garded as  an  orange  to  be  squeezed.  ...  If  Western 
nations  do  not  repent  of  their  godless  gobbling  of  the  world, 
let  there  be  no  pious  preachments  of  'Peace  on  earth,  good 
will  to  men.'  If  selfishness  is  still  to  be  in  power,  there  will 
be  war  in  the  Far  East,  and  when  it  comes  it  will  be  a  real 
war." 

And  what  the  lust  for  dividends  is  doing  in  the  Orient 
it  has  done  for  long  years  in  other  places.  It  was  "profits" 
that  led  Germany  into  the  crusade  of  commercialism  which 
ended  in  the  great  World  War.  History  records  that  when 
Bismarck  took  his  first  steps  toward  a  colonial  empire  he 
made  it  clear  that  he  was  under  pressure  from  commercial  and 
industrial  circles.  He  wanted  "not  provinces,  but  commercial 
enterprises."  Other  nations  have  been  driven  by  the  same 
motive — and  are  still  driven.  Mr.  Leonard  Woolf"  shows  how 
demoralizing  has  been  this  race  for  business,  a  race  carried 
on  with  cruel  disregard  for  life  or  property,  in  order  that 
big  commercial  concerns  might  have  raw  materials  and  mar- 
kets at  their  own  price.  For  instance,  he  submits  the  fol- 
lowing figures   showing  what   shares  the   different   European 

^The  Next  War,  by  Will  Irwin.     E.  P.  Dutton  &  Co.,  Publishers,  New  York. 
^Economic  Imperialism,  by  Leonard  Woolf.    Harcourt,  Brace  &  Howe,  pub- 
lishers, New  York. 

175 


[IX-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

states  have  taken  in  the  partition  of  Africa.  The  serious- 
ness of  this  indictment  will  be  better  understood  when  it 
is  realized  that  only  390,000  square  miles  have  been  left  to 
the  free  states  of  the  dark  continent.  The  table  shows  the 
area  in  square  miles  seized  by  the  different  nations : 

AREA  POPULATION 

France    4,200,000  25,000,000 

Britain     3,300,000  35,000,000 

Germany    1,100,000  12,000,000 

Belgium     900,000  7,000,000 

Portugal    800,000  8,000,000 

Italy    600,000  1,000,000 

Spain    75,000  200,000 

In  commenting,  Mr.  Woolf  says :  "The  military  nature  of  this 
expansion  of  the  French  and  British  Empires  must  not,  how- 
ever, obscure  the  compelling  part  played  in  it  by  economic 
motives.  The  weapon  of  expansion  was  war  for  conquest. 
The  aims  of  expansion  were  markets,  raw  materials,  and 
profits." 

Now,  the  story  of  economic  imperialism  is  the  sadder  be- 
cause it  has  been  conducted  oftentimes  by  Christian  men  and 
so-called  Christian  nations  who  have  had  one  standard  for 
Sunday  and  another  for  the  market  place.  "Life  must  be 
unified,"  says  Mr.  Roger  Babson.  "We  have  discredited  the 
double  standard  of  morality.  We  are  beginning  to  doubt 
the  double  standard  which  permits  a  man  to  separate  his 
business  and  his  personal  conduct,  or  his  week-day  dealings 
and  his   Sabbath   professions." 

But  altogether  apart  from  the  fact  that  economic  imperial- 
ism certainly  leads  to  war  and  bloodshed,  the  distress  of 
humanity  in  time  of  peace  is  what  furnishes  the  greatest 
indictment  against  the  present  industrial  system.  If  it  be 
objected  that  the  industrial  problem  is  complex,  it  must  also 
be  affirmed  that  it  is  desperate.  If  it  is  to  be  faced  with  cau- 
tion, it  is  also  to  be  faced  with  courage.  Souls  are  at  stake, 
and  more,  the  honor  of  the  church  is  in  the  balance. 

In  the  first  place  it  should  be  fairly  understood  that  neither 
capital  nor  labor  is  to  be  blamed  alone,  nor  is  the  industrial 
distress  to  be  laid  at  the  door  of  these  two  alone  while  the 
church  goes  scot  free.     "In  the  present   industrial   conflict," 

176 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-i] 

says  Dr.  William  Austin  Smith/  "I  do  not  see  unmistak- 
ably on  either  side  the  face  of  the  Master.  I  can  find  it 
neither  among  those  who  claim  to  be  conservative  nor  those 
who  wish  to  be  called  radical.  Both  wish  to  possess  and  to 
hold.  Both  love  riches;  both  make  property  the  pearl  of 
great  price.  When  the  labor  leader  sits  across  the  table  from 
the  spokesman  of  capital  in  these  heated  conferences  now  tak- 
ing place  Christ  is  not  in  the  discussion.  It  is  a  battle  of 
wits ;  its  weapons  are  cleverness,  suspicion,  the  zest  to  keep 
what  one  has  and  to  get  more.  I  do  not  impugn  the  justice 
of  the  claims  of  either  side;  but  the  conflict  has  too  little 
to  do  with  Christianity,  for  the  moment  Christ  enters  a  prob- 
lem, the  air  is  charged  with  a  new  principle.  Love  asks, 
"What  can  I  give?"     The  world  asks,  "What  can  I  get?" 

Moreover,  if  capital  and  labor  are  both  guilty,  it  must  be 
kept  in  mind,  in  the  second  place,  that  both  are  suffering 
along  with  a  sufifering  humanity.  Says  Mr.  Roger  Babson :" 
"There  is  one  thing  I  am  sure  of,  and  that  is  that  the  present 
system  does  not  work.  The  present  system  is  failing  in  getting 
men  to  produce.  .  .  .  Our  industrial  system  has  resulted 
in  almost  stultifying  men  economically  and  making  most  of 
them  economically  nonproductive.  Why?  I  do  not  know. 
I  simply  see  what  happens.  The  salvation  of  our  industries 
depends  on  discovering  something  that  will  revive  in  a  man 
that  desire  to  produce  and  that  joy  in  production  which  he  had 
instinctively  when  he  was  a  small  boy."  And  if  capital  suffers, 
as  Mr.  Babson  indicates,  on  the  one  hand,  on  the  other  hand 
the  common  man  certainly  has  his  greater  grievances.  Vachel 
Lindsay's  picture  of  the  "leaden-eyed  child"  is  also  really  a 
picture  of  the  mass  of  adult  men  and  women  too. 

"Not  that  they  starve,  but  starve  so   dreamlessly; 
Not  that  they  sow,  but  that  they  seldom  reap ; 
Not  that  they  serve,  but  have  no  gods  to  serve ; 
Not  that  they  die,  but  that  they  die  like  sheep." 

A  very  brief  glimpse  of  the  condition  of  the  masses  of 
working  men  is  summarized  in  the  following  statement  from 
the  pen  of  Dr.  Harris  F.  Rail: 


^Christian  Stewardship:   The  Way  Out,  in  the  Churchman,  May  29,  1920. 
^Fundamentals    of  Prosperity,  by    Roger  W.   Babson.    Fleming  H.    Revell 
Company,  publishers,  New  York. 


IlX-i]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

'"First  we  must  note  his  uncertain  employment.  This  man 
has  practically  nothing  ahead,  for  two  thirds  of  the  people 
of  this  country  have  nothing  besides  their  furniture  and 
their  clothing  and  their  few  personal  effects.  Yet  he  knows 
that  any  day  he  may  lose  his  job,  and  take  the  news  back 
to  his  wife  and  children  that  look  to  him  day  by  day  for 
bread  and  hope.  In  August,  1921,  the  Labor  Department 
reported  five  and  three-quarter  millions  of  laborers  unem- 
ployed." 

''Second,  we  must  face  the  fact  of  the  inadequate  wage. 
Five  years  ago  it  was  generally  recognized  that  the  minimum 
income,  just  enough  to  keep  a  family  from  going  down 
physically  and  morally,  was  $750.  Yet  even  this  standard 
was  not  reached  by  half  the  families  of  the  country,  ac- 
cording to  the  National  Commission  of  Industrial  Relations. 
Over  half  the  wage-earners  of  this  country  received  less  than 
$600. 

"Third,  beside  this  must  he  put  the  unequal  distribution  of 
^'ealth.  .  .  .  Professor  King,  of  Wisconsin,  estimates  that 
2  per  cent  of  the  people  of  this  country  own  60  per  cent  of 
the  wealth,  while  60  per  cent  of  the  people  average  but  a 
few  hundred  dollars  apiece.  .  .  .  Do  you  raise  the  ques- 
tion of  the  justice  of  a  man  having  what  he  earns?  .  .  . 
But  the  main  question  remains :  Does  it  make  for  the  high- 
est human  life  on  either  side  to  have  an  industry  which  leaves 
a  few  with  great  wealth,  and  great  numbers  either  in  poverty 
or  with  less  than  a  living  wage? 

"Fourth,  one  other  fact  this  common  man  faces,  and  that  is 
that  he  has  no  voice  himself  in  this  world  of  work.  A  few  of 
his  number  do ;  they  are  organized  and  can  make  themselves 
heard,  and  sometimes  they  misuse  the  power  that  comes  from 
this  united  strength  just  as  the  capitalist  sometimes  does; 
but  this  common  man  stands  alone  and  is  helpless.  .  .  . 
He  is  told  sometimes  that  labor  and  capital  are  partners,  but 
in  this  firm  the  power  rests  all  with  one  member.  This  is 
autocracy  in  business." 

Of  course  the  above  paragraphs  can  hardly  do  more  than 
indicate  a  line  of  study.  However,  we  have  marshaled  here 
facts  that  clearly  serve  as  a  challenge  to  Christianity.  How 
can  Christian  brotherhood  be  more  than  a  dream  while  pres- 
ent industrial  and  social  conditions  exist? 

Moreover,  if  these  statements  furnish  a  greater  indictment 

178 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-i] 

against  capital,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  Scripture 
enjoins  that  the  strong  must  hear  the  burdens  of  the  weak. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  ought  to  be  said  very  loudly  that  per- 
haps the  most  disappointing  feature  of  the  present  industrial 
situation  is  the  apparent  lack  of  any  high  Christian  ideal  in 
organized  labor.    Says  Dr.  Smith : 

"The  most  terrible  thing  with  which  we  are  confronted 
to-day  is  the  loss  of  morale  among  workmen.  Once  capital 
said,  "The  public  be  damned !"  Labor  is  now  making  this 
same  jaunty  assertion.  Among  the  workers  of  the  world 
there  is  growing  everywhere  a  sullen  spirit  of  irresponsibility, 
insolence,  and  a  loss  of  craftmanship  and  a  love  of  the  job. 
If  this  goes  on,  we  shall  witness  the  collapse  of  the  industrial 
fabric."  He  adds  :  "We  are  witnessing  to-day  tests  of  strength 
between  labor  and  capital.  Whichever  wins,  the  kingdom  of 
God  will  lose." 

What  is  the  way  out?  We  venture  to  assert  that  the  prob- 
lem is  not  primarily  a  question  of  economics — it  is  primarily  a 
matter  of  religion  and  of  Christian  stewardship.  Indeed,  it 
is  increasingly  possible  to  back  up  this  kind  of  an  assertion 
with  splendid  utterances  from  the  lips  of  strong  business 
men  all  over  the  land.  To  quote  Mr.  Babson  again :  "Labor 
and  capital  are  of  little  value  until  they  are  composed  of  peo- 
ple filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God.  The  industrial  problem  will 
never  be  solved  by  employers'  associations  or  labor  associa- 
tions or  consumers'  associations;  but  only  as  all  get  to- 
gether as  brothers  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  God.  .  .  .  Oh,  if 
men  would  think  more  of  rehgion  and  less  of  commodities, 
bank  clearings,  foreign  trade,  and  immigrations !" 

And  yet  there  are  some  industrial  leaders  who  declare 
that  the  church  should  keep  out;  but  these  men  are  thinking 
only  of  one  side  of  the  problem.  Probably  they  are  right  in 
their  insistence  that  the  details  of  any  new  industrial  order, 
or  any  plan  of  economic  reconstruction,  must  be  worked  out 
not  by  "ministers"  but  by  experienced  industrial  experts.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  they  forget  that  it  is  the  burning  business 
of  the  church  to  cry  aloud  in  its  demand  that  the  stezvardship 
principle  of  God's  ownership  of  all  property  and  business  shall 
be  actually  applied  in  a  practical  way.  Remembering  this, 
"the  solution  of  the  industrial  problem  is  as  simple  as  the 
alphabet  but  as  hard  as  redemption." 

In  that  splendid  book  of   essays  Property,  Its  Duties  and 

1/9 


[IX-i]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Rights,^  the  editor  of  the  volume  explains  why  no  essay  is 
included  on  some  particular  plan  of  economic  reconstruction 
by  saying,  ''The  primary  task  is  to  discover  the  ideal  of  prop- 
erty." Just  so,  Christ  does  not  propose  any  particular  pro- 
gram, but  he  does  insist  that  a  program  will  be  forthcoming 
when  business  men  shall  dedicate  their  talents  to  God.  Dur- 
ing the  World  War  America  saw  on  a  great  scale  the  stew- 
ardship of  citizenship.  It  was  inspiring  to  see  great  industrial 
leaders  ready  to  sacrifice  personal  interests  in  order  to  win 
the  war.  These  men  did  not  ask  for  programs;  they  came 
with  a  great  passion  to  serve,  and  made  their  own  programs. 
But  the  passion  to  serve  came  first. 

Dr.  James  R.  Joy  not  long  ago  said :  "The  Cincinnati  cloth- 
ing manufacturer  who  is  trying  to  run  his  business  accord- 
ing to  the  principles  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  said  that  a 
great  many  people  write  to  him  to  ask  for  a  copy  of  his 
'system.'  They  have  heard  of  his  marvelous  gain  in  pro- 
duction and  think  he  must  have  devised  a  code  of  rules  which 
others  can  copy.  They  are  disappointed  when  they  are  told 
there  is  no  rule  but  the  Golden  Rule — nothing  but  the  work- 
ing out  of  a  principle — 'Do  as  you  would  be  done  by.'  "  Here 
is  a  fact  that  students  of  the  industrial  problem  too  often 
overlook:  Love  will  ultimately  find  a  way,  and  stewardship 
is  the  ultimate  solution  of  all  the  problems  of  industry,  be- 
cause the   compelling  principle  is  the    forgetfulness   of   self. 


DAILY  READINGS 

Ninth  Week — First  Day- 
It  is  sometimes  said  that  Christianity  is  unfinished  busi- 
ness. This  fact  underlies  Jesus'  command,  "Ye  shall  be  per- 
fect." Paul  took  his  Lord's  words  at  their  face  value,  and 
cried,  "I  press  on !"  Before  the  church  or  any  individual  can 
do  very  much  toward  Christianizing  industry  there  must  be 
a  conviction  of  sin — a  keen  realization  that  there  is  "un- 
finished business"  and  that  there  is  no  phase  of  human  ac- 
tivity— no  compartment  in  the  human  heart — which  Christ 
does   not  claim   as  his  field   of   conquest.     "Either   Christ   is 


^Essays  by  Various  Writers  with  Introduction  by  the  Bishop  of  Oxford.      The 
Macmillan  Company,  publishers,  New  York. 

i8o 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-i] 

Lord  of  all  or  not  Lord  at  all."  A  recent  writer  has  said  that 
"the  so-called  revivals  of  religion  keep  us  safely  off  these 
sins  in  which  great  economic  wrongs  and  social  injustices 
are  flagrant."  It  is  hard  to  believe  that  such  words  state  the 
whole  truth.  Perhaps  it  is  fairer  to  say  that  the  church  is 
suffering  from  that  early  apostasy  from  Jesus'  teaching  con- 
cerning the  stewardship  of  property  and  wealth;  and  that 
we  need  a  new  generation  of  John  Baptists  who  shall  help 
us  to  see  the  ramifications  of  our  sins.  In  any  case,  the  first 
step  to  the  solution  of  the  industrial  problem  is  an  honest 
facing  of  the  fact  that  industry  is  not  deeply  and  thoroughly 
Christian:  that  it  must  be  Christianized;  and  the  responsibility 
rests  not  primarily  upon  some  industrial  experts  but  upon  the 
Christian  business  men  of  the  land. 

It  is  a  significant  thing  that  when  the  multitude  came  to 
John  the  Baptist,  saying,  "What  shall  we  do?"  he  told  them 
honestly  to  face  the  ungodly  social  order  of  their  day,  and 
to  Christianize  their  own  possessions  and  their  business  deal- 
ings. 

And  the  multitudes  asked  him,  saying,  What  then  must 
we  do?  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  He  that 
hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that  hath  none: 
and  he  that  hath  food,  let  him  do  likewise.  And  there 
came  also  publicans  to  be  baptized,  and  they  said  imto 
him,  Teacher,  what  must  we  do?  And  he  said  imto  them. 
Extort  no  more  than  that  which  is  appointed  you.  And 
soldiers  also  asked  him,  saying.  And  we,  what  must  we 
do?  And  he  said  unto  them,  Extort  from  no  man  by 
violence,  neither  accuse  anyone  wrongfully;  and  be  con- 
tent with  your  wages. — Luke  3.  10-14. 

MEDITATION 

To  reach  old  age,  possessed  only  of  money  and  a  desire 
to  increase  it,  is  not  success  in  life.  It  is  a  sad  and  ter- 
rible failure;  better  die  a  pauper  in  purse  than  a  pauper  in 
soul ;  better  fail  to  get  money  than  to  allow  money  to  get  you, 

— Unknown. 

I  thank  thee  just  for  life,  the  chance  to  live. 
To   be  alive!     So  great  thy  gift,   if   thou   dost  nothing  give 
Besides,  it  is  enough  to  breathe  thy  air, 
To  walk  this  mountain  sod, 
To   feel  the  play  of  mighty  winds, 

To  look  thee  in  the  face  and  call  thee  God.        — R.  S.  C. 

t8t 


[IX-2]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  PRAYER 

O  God,  we  pray  for  thy  church,  which  is  set  to-day  amid 
the  perplexities  of  a  changing  order,  and  face  to  face  with 
a  great  new  task.  We  remember  with  love  the  nurture  she 
gave  to  our  spiritual  life  in  its  infancy,  the  tasks  she  set  for 
our  growing  strength,  the  influence  of  the  devoted  hearts  she 
gathers,  the  steadfast  power  for  good  she  has  exerted.  When 
we  compare  her  with  all  other  human  institutions  we  re- 
joice, for  there  is  none  like  her.  But  when  we  judge  her 
by  the  mind  of  her  Master,  we  bow  in  pity  and  contrition.  Oh, 
baptize  her  afresh  in  the  life-giving  spirit  of  Jesus!  Grant 
her  a  new  birth,  though  it  be  with  travail  of  repentance  and 
humiliation.  Bestow  upon  her  a  more  imperious  responsive- 
ness to  duty,  a  swifter  compassion  with  suffering,  and  an 
titter  loyalty  to  the  will  of  God.  Put  upon  her  lips  the  ancient 
gospel  of  her  Lord.  Help  her  to  proclaim  boldly  the  coming 
of  the  kingdom  of  God  and  the  doom  of  all  that  resist  it. 
Fill  her  with  the  prophets'  scorn  of  tyranny,  and  with  a  Christ- 
like tenderness  for  the  heavy-laden  and  dozvn-trodden.  Give 
her  faith  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  people,  and  in  their 
hands  that  grope  after  freedom  and  light  to  recognize  the 
bleeding  hands  of  the  Christ. — Walter  Rauschenbusch. 


Ninth  Week— Second  Day 

Jesus'  gospel  of  stewardship  maintains  that  business  can- 
not be  truly  Christian  while  it  is  conducted  primarily  for 
profits.  For  the  Master  declared  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
should  be  the  first  thing  in  any  man's  life.  The  reason  for 
this  lies  in  the  fact  that  neither  "profits"  nor  any  other  thing 
finally  satisfies,  as  Robert  Service  indicates  in  these  lines: 

"I  wanted  the  gold,  and  I  sought  it; 
I   scrabbled  and  mucked   like  a   slave. 
Was  it  famine  or  scurvy — I   fought  it; 
I  hurled  my  youth  into  a  grave. 

"I  wanted  the  gold,  and  I  got  it — 

Came  out  with  a  fortune  last  Fall — 
Yet  somehow  life's  not  what  I  thought  it, 
And  somehow  the  gold  isn't  all." 
182 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-2] 

The  trouble  with  the  excuse-makers  in  to-day's  Scripture 
comes  from  giving  precedence  to  anything  else — however  good 
in  itself — over  the  kingdom  of  God.  Jesus  declares  that 
none  who  place  the  kingdom  second  can  enter  therein: 

And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to  make  excuse. 
The  first  said  unto  him,  I  have  bought  a  field,  and  I  must 
needs  go  out  and  see  it;  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused. 
And  another  said,  I  have  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen,  and 
I  go  to  prove  them;  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused.  And 
another  said,  I  have  married  a  wife,  and  therefore  I 
cannot  come.  And  the  servant  came,  and  told  his  lord 
these  things.  Then  the  master  of  the  house  being  angry 
said  to  his  servant.  Go  out  quickly  into  the  streets  and 
lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in  hither  the  poor  and  maimed 
and  blind  and  lame.  .  .  .  For  I  say  unto  you,  that 
none  of  those  men  that  were  bidden  shall  taste  of  my 
supper. — Luke  14.  18-21,  24. 

MEDITATION 

How  difficult  it  is  for  the  business  man  to  live  unselfishly  I 
He  must  bear  the  handicap  of  a  life  whose  main  purpose 
is  the  accumulation  of  money.  .  .  .  Who  is  the  most  suc- 
cessful business  man?  Not  necessarily  the  man  who  has 
the  largest  bank  account;  that  is  one  measure  of  success, 
but  not  the  finest.  The  most  successful  business  man  is  he 
who  renders  the  greatest  service  to  mankind,  and  whose  life 
is  most  useful.^ — William  E.  Sweet. 

*'To  love  someone  more  dearly  every  day, 
To  help  some  wandering  child  to  find  his  way; 
To  ponder  o'er  a  noble  thought  and  pray, 
And  smile  when   evening   falls : 
This  is  my   task. 

"To  follow  truth  as  blind  men  long  for  light, 
To  do  my  best  from  dawn  of   day  till  night; 
To  keep  my  heart  fit  for  his  holy  sight. 
And  answer  when  he  calls  : 

This  is  my  task."  — Maude  Louise  Ray. 

A    PRAYER 

Lord  of  the  great  sacrifice,  restrain  our  eagerness  for  the 

^The  Biisiness  Man  and  His  Overflow,  Association  Press,  New  York. 
183 


[IX-3]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

things  that  are  seen.  Thy  cross  is  our  rebuke.  Increase  our 
spending  for  the  things  eternal.  Lord  of  the  sinless  life,  our 
hope  is  to  become  like  thee.  Fulfill  our  hearts  in  service, 
that  our  hope  be  not  in  vain.  Lord  of  the  holiest  joy — 
the  joy  of  boundless  giznng — teach  us  thy  grace  of  losing, 
that  our  joy  may  indeed  be  full.  The  world  counteth  all 
things  lost  if  it  gain  not  the  things  it  may  reckon.  Help  us 
to  count  all  things  but  loss,  to  win  thee,  the  wealth  unmeas- 
ured.    Amen. — Bishop   L.   J.   Birney. 


Ninth  Week— Third  Day 

Jesus'  gospel  of  stewardship  maintains  that  business  can- 
not be  actually  Christian  while  it  interferes  with  the  ideals 
of  Christian  brotherhood,  which  must  always  be  the  case 
as  long  as  the  motive  to  get  profits  dominates.  In  one  of  his 
poems  Whittier  flashes  a  brief  picture  of  love's  contribution 
to  life  against  the  sad  picture  of  existence  where  man  is  in 
bitter  competition  with  man.     He  begins  in  these  words: 

"Still  sits  the  schoolhouse  by  the  road, 
A  ragged  beggar  sunning." 

He  paints  for  us  a  country  schoolhouse,  and  then  the  pic- 
ture of  the  little  boy  and  the  little  girl  walking  home  bash- 
fully together — he  ashamed  because  of  his  failure  in  the 
recently  finished  spelling  match,  and  she  sorry  because  she 
went  above  him. 

"I'm  sorry  that  I  spelled  the  word, 
I   hate  to   go   above  you. 
Because — the   brown   eyes    lower   fell — 
Because,   you    see,    I    love   you." 

In  after  years,  with  a  pathetic  touch,  the  poet  makes  this 
observation : 

"Still  memory  to  a  gray-haired  man 
That  sweet  child  face  is  showing. 
Dear  girl!     The  grasses  on  her  grave 
Have    forty   years   been   growing. 
184 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-3] 

"He  lives,  to  learn  in  life's  hard  school, 

How    few   who  pass   above  him 
Lament  their  triumph  or  his  loss, 
Like   her,   because   they   love   him." 

Note  in  the  Scripture  lesson  to-day  the  new  motive  which 
Paul  puts  into  labor  when  he  urges  the  Ephesians  to  work 
in  order  that  they  may  help  those  in  need.  Indeed,  every 
verse  is  looking  toward  the  building  up  of  a  Christian  brother- 
hood: 

Let  him  that  stole  steal  no  more:  but  rather  let  him 
labor,  working  with  his  hands  the  thing  that  is  good, 
that  he  may  have  whereof  to  give  to  him  that  hath  need. 
Let  no  corrupt  speech  proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  but 
such  as  is  good  for  edifying  as  the  need  may  be,  that  it 
may  give  grace  to  them  that  hear.  And  grieve  not  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  God,  in  whom  ye  were  sealed  unto  the  day 
of  redemption.  Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger, 
and  clamor,  and  railing,  be  put  away  from  you,  with  all 
malice,  and  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tenderhearted,  for- 
giving each  other,  even  as  God  also  in  Christ  forgave 
you. — Eph.  4.  28-32. 

MEDITATION 

Carlyle  was  forever  insisting  that  the  pursuit  of  wealth  is 
not  a  "human  bond" ;  and  Mr.  L.  P.  Jacks,  commenting,  says : 
"Seekers  of  buried  treasure  invariably  quarrel  among  them- 
selves for  reasons  which  are  manifest  to  a  child.  It  makes 
no  difference  whether  it  is  hidden  in  a  pirates'  cavern  or  in 
the  bowels  of  the  earth.  They  may  arrange  the  most  equi- 
table scheme  for  the  division  of  the  spoils,  and  seal  their 
mutual  loyalty  with  fearful  oaths,  but  before  the  voyage 
is  over  the  captain  will  be  dangling  at  the  yard  arm,  and  the 
deck  will  be  slippery  with  the  blood  of  half  the  crew." — Edwin 
M.  Poteat. 

"Let  thy  high  manhood  sacred  be, 
And   lift   thy  calling  up   to   thee; 
Be  true  thyself,   and  thou   shalt  find 
An  answering  echo  in  thy  mind. 
Keep  thou  thy  faith  with  men,  and  see 
How  men  will  keep  their  faith  with  thee." 

— Henry  S.   Kent. 
(To  a  youth  entering  business.) 

185 


[IX-4]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

A  PRAYER 

Blessed  Lord,  who  for  our  sakes  wast  content  to  hear  sor- 
row and  want  in  death,  grant  unto  us  such  a  measure  of  thy 
Spirit  that  we  may  follow  thee  in  all  self-denial  and  tender- 
ness of  soul.  Help  us  by  thy  great  love  to  succor  the  afflicted, 
to  relieve  the  needy  and  destitute,  to  share  the  burden  of  the 
heavy-laden,  and  ever  to  see  thee  in  all  the  poor  and  desolate. 
Amen. — David  R.  Porter. 


Ninth  Week— Fourth  Day 

Jesus'  gospel  of  Christian  stewardship  maintains  that  busi- 
ness cannot  be  Christian  so  long  as  it  divides  men  into  warring 
groups.  One  of  the  pathetic,  although  encouraging,  signs  of 
the  times  is  to  be  seen  in  the  way  in  which  the  different 
industrial  groups  claim  Jesus  Christ  as  their  particular  patron. 
For  instance,  Sarah  G.  Cleghorn  says: 

"Thanks  to  Saint  Matthew,  who  had  been 
At  mass  meetings  in  Palestine, 
We  know  whose  side  was  spoken  for 
When   Comrade  Jesus   had   the   floor. 

"O  let  no  Locale  him  refuse ! 
Comrade    Jesus    hath    paid    his    dues : 
Whatever  other  be  debarred. 
Comrade  Jesus  hath  his  red  card." 

Note  the  different  attitude  which  the  apostle  Paul  main- 
tains in  his  exhortation  to  the  Philippians :  God  is  no  re- 
specter of  persons ;  he  is  concerned  with  all  kinds  and  con- 
ditions of  men.  You  cannot  claim  Christ  when  you  are 
fighting  to  get  something  from  somebody  else  that  he  is 
ready  to  fight  to  retain. 

If  there  is  therefore  any  exhortation  in  Christ,  if  any 
consolation  of  love,  if  any  fellowship  of  the  Spirit,  if 
any  tender  mercies  and  compassions,  make  full  my  joy, 
that  ye  be  of  the  same  mind,  having  the  same  love,  being 
of  one  accord,  of  one  mind;  doing  nothing  through  fac- 
tion or  through  vainglory,  but  in  lowliness  of  mind  each 
counting  other  better  than  himself;  not  looking  each  of 

i86 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-5] 

you  to 'his  own  things,  but  each  of  you  also  to  the  things 
of  others. — Phil.  2.  1-4. 

MEDITATION 

A  little  thought  will  show  you  how  vastly  your  own 
happiness  depends  on  the  way  other  people  bear  themselves 
toward  you.  The  looks  and  tones  at  your  breakfast  table, 
the  conduct  of  your  fellow  workers  or  employers,  the  faith- 
ful or  unreliable  men  you  deal  with,  what  people  say  to  you 
on  the  street,  the  letters  you  get,  the  friends  or  foes  you 
meet — these  things  make  up  very  much  of  the  pleasure  or 
misery  of  your  day.  Turn  the  idea  around,  and  remember 
that  just  so  much  are  you  adding  to  the  pleasure  or  misery 
of  other  people's  days. — George  S.  Merriam. 

"Love's  on  the  high  road, 
Love's  in  the  by-road, 
Love's  in  the  meadow,  and 
Love's  in  the  mart! 

"And    down    every   by-way 
Where  I've  taken  my  way 
I've  met  Love  a-smiling — for 
Love's   in   my  heart." 

— Dana  Burnet. 

A  PRAYER 

Eternal  God,  our  heavenly  Father,  teach  us  at  the  begin- 
ning of  every  day  the  art  of  preparation,  that  we  may  better 
realise  the  glory  of  thy  service.  We  would  sit  at  the  feet  of 
thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  With  longing  and  expect- 
ant hearts  we  cry  to  thee;  sharpen,  we  beseech  thee,  our  spir- 
itual perception,  that  we  may  know  thy  will.  Grant  thy 
cleansing  to  our  souls,  that  we  may  sanctify  all  things  we 
touch.  May  the  spirit  of  self-abandonment  be  ours.  O  thou 
who  didst  say,  "We  must  work  the  works  of  him  that  sent 
me,"  help  us  to  do  thy  bidding  all  this  day;  and  when  the 
evening  comes,  grant  us  the  joy  of  thy  "Well  done."    Amen. 

— J.  Homer  Slutz. 

Ninth  Week—Fifth  Day 

Jesus'  gospel  of  Christian  stewardship  further  maintains 
that  industry  is  not  Christian  until  it  is  run  according  to  the 

187 


[IX-5]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

principle  of  the  Golden  Rule.  Two  gentlemen  in  an  Eastern 
city  were  making  an  assertion  of  the  above  character  when 
one  of  them  observed  that  no  single  individual  could  ever 
afford  to  make  the  experiment  of  putting  the  Golden  Rule 
into  industry  unless  he  could  have  united  with  him  a  thousand 
righteous  employers  who  were  ready  to  make  the  same  ad- 
venture. It  seems  that  such  an  assertion  runs  counter  to  all 
experiences.  Progress  has  always  been  started  by  some  lone 
pioneers.  Indeed,  such  is  the  case  in  industry.  The  pro- 
prietor of  a  Cincinnati  industry,  after  a  remarkable  adven- 
ture in  business  stewardship,  says :  'T  had  regarded  the  Golden 
Rule  as  the  divine  law  governing  human  relationships.  //  is 
the  only  equitable,  workable,  industrial,  and  economic  law  in 
the  universe  to-day.  I  do  not  say  it  has  solved  all  labor 
troubles  in  our  factory;  nay,  it  has  done  more — it  has  elimi- 
nated all  labor  troubles  during  the  most  trying  industrial 
period  in  the  world's  history.  I  do  not  say  it  has  driven 
out  hatred,  strife,  and  selfishness;  it  has  done  more — it  has 
ushered  in  good  will,  contentment,  cooperation,  and  happi- 
ness." 

Indeed,  concerning  this  particular  experiment,  an  outsider 
has  described  the  contagiousness  of  the  Golden-Rule  method 
in  these  words  :  "The  recent  act  of  the  five  hundred  employees 
of  the  Nash  Clothing  Manufacturing  Company,  which  is 
operated  on  the  Golden-Rule  basis,  has  won  nation-wide 
approval.  Both  employer  and  employees  had  profited  ma- 
terially as  well  as  spiritually  to  a  surprising  extent  by  the 
introduction  of  the  Golden  Rule  into  business.  The  em- 
ployees, not  to  be  outdone  in  well-doing,  have  now  decided 
voluntarily  to  surrender  their  jobs  for  a  month  in  order  to 
give  work  to  the  unemployed  of  other  factories."  Contrast 
with  statements  of  this  kind  the  denunciation  by  a  current 
religious  magazine  of  the  mine  cave-in  at  Scranton,  Penn- 
sylvania, which  let  down  an  area  equivalent  to  four  city 
blocks,  wrecking  many  buildings  and  destroying  several  lives. 
The  editor  says :  "And  still  the  mine  caves  go  on,  because 
careless  or  conscienceless  coal  corporations,  in  their  greedi- 
ness to  take  out  the  last  pound  of  coal  to  sell  on  extortionate 
terms,  do  not  leave  enough  pillars  to  hold  up  surface  ground 
with  its  dwellings,  churches,  stores,  and  even  burying  grounds 
This  kind  of  thing  could  not  happen  under  a  Golden-Rule 
regime. 

i88 


1 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-5] 

All  things  therefore  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  unto  you,  even  so  do  ye  also  unto  them:  for 
this  is  the  law  and  the  prophets.     .     .     . 

Be  ye  merciful,  even  as  your  Father  is  merciful.  And 
judge  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  judged:  and  condemn  not, 
and  ye  shall  not  be  condemned:  release,  and  ye  shall  be 
released:  give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you;  good  meas- 
ure, pressed  down,  shaken  together,  running  over,  shall 
they  give  into  your  bosom.  For  with  what  measure  ye 
mete  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again. — Matt.  7.  12; 
Luke  6.  36-38. 

MEDITATION 

Surely,  the  truth  must  be  that  whatsoever  in  our  daily  life 
is  lawful  and  right  for  us  to  engage  in,  is  in  itself  a  part  of 
our  obedience  to  God;  a  part,  that  is,  of  our  very  religion. 
And  whensoever  we  hear  people  complaining  of  the  obstruc- 
tions and  hindrances  put  by  the  duties  of  life  in  the  way  of 
devoting  themselves  to  God,  we  may  be  sure  they  are  under 
some  false  view  or  other.  They  do  not  look  upon  their 
daily  work  as  the  task  God  has  sent  them  to  do  and  as 
obedience  to  him. — H.  E.  Manning. 

"Is  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting? 
Rise  and  share  it  with  another, 
And  through  all  the  years  of  famine 

It  shall  serve  thee  and  thy  brother. 
Is  thy  burden  hard  and  heavy? 

Do  thy  steps  drag  heavily? 
Help  to  bear  thy  brother's  burden; 
God  will  bear  both  it  and  thee." 

— Elizabeth   Charles. 

"There  is  a  destiny  that  makes  us  brothers, 

None  goes  his  way  alone, 
All  that  we  send  into  the  lives  of  others 
Comes  back   into   our   own." 

— Edwin  Markham. 

A  PRAYER 

Almighty  God,  cause  me  to  look  out  this  morning,  and 
open  wide  my  eyes,  that  I  may  see  what  great  preparation 
thou  hast  made  that  I  might  live.  May  I  he  ashamed  to 
start  wrong  and  be  unworthy  of  the  glory  of  this  day.    Amen. 

— Margaret    Bird    Steinmetz. 
189 


[IX-6]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Ninth  Week— Sixth  Day 

But  as  a  matter  of  practical  experience  it  is  not  enough 
to  point  in  a  general  way  to  the  Golden  Rule  as  the  solu- 
tion of  our  industrial  problems,  for  Jesus'  gospel  of  steward- 
ship maintains  that  the  ultimate  acceptance  of  the  Golden 
Rule  in  business  depends  upon  the  acknowledgment  of  God's 
ownership  of  property.  "Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,"  to 
quote  Mr.  Babson,  "the  fundamental  conception  that  under- 
lies all  this  discussion  is  this :  Is  the  wealth  that  comes  to  a 
man  his,  or  is  it  a  trust  fund?"  It  may  be  that  the  editor  of 
a  great  magazine  is  right  in  declaring  that  twenty  great 
leaders  in  our  world  of  business,  if  they  would  unite  their 
efforts  and  abilities,  could  change  the  whole  industrial  situa- 
tion; but  there  is  little  hope  that  this  beneficent  result  will  be 
forthcoming  unless  those  gentlemen  are  soundly  converted 
to  the  point  where  they  will  accept  Jesus'  declaration,  "Who- 
soever he  be  of  you  that  renounceth  not  all  that  he  hath, 
he  cannot  be  my  disciple."  This  is  what  Mr.  George  Innes 
evidently  has  in  mind  when  he  gives,  both  as  the  antidote 
for  covetousness  and  the  solution  of  the  industrial  problem, 
the  four  words :  "Renounce  ownership — accept  stewardship." 
This  is  the  message  that  lies  behind  God's  ancient  appeal : 

Beware  lest  thou  forget  Jehovah  thy  God,  in  not  keep- 
ing his  commandments,  and  his  ordinances,  and  his 
statutes,  which  I  command  thee  this  day:  lest  when  thou 
hast  eaten  and  art  full,  and  hast  built  goodly  houses,  and 
dwelt  therein;  and  when  thy  herds  and  thy  flocks  multi- 
ply, and  thy  silver  and  thy  gold  is  multiplied,  and  all 
that  thou  hast  is  multiplied;  then  thy  heart  be  lifted  up, 
and  thou  forget  Jehovah  thy  God,  who  brought  thee 
forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of 
bondage;  ,  .  .  and  lest  thou  say  in  thy  heart.  My 
power  and  the  might  of  my  hand  hath  gotten  me  this 
wealth.  But  thou  shalt  remember  Jehovah  thy  God,  for 
it  is  he  that  giveth  thee  power  to  get  wealth;  that  he 
may  establish  his  covenant  which  he  sware  unto  thy 
fathers. — Deut.  8.  11-14,  17,  18. 

MEDITATION 

Exceeding  gifts  from  God  are  not  blessings,  they  are  duties. 
190 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-7] 

They  do  not  always  increase  a  man's  happiness;  they  always 
increase  his  responsibilities. — Charles  Kingsley. 

"Who  does  God's  work  will  get  God's  pay, 
However  long  may  seem  the  day, 
However  weary  be  the  way. 

"Though  powers  and  princes  thunder  'Nay!' 
No  human  hand  God's  hand  can   stay; 
Who  does  his  work  will  get  his  pay. 

"He  does  not  pay  as  others  pay 
In  gold  or  land  or  raiment  gay, 
In  goods  that  perish  and  decay.       ' 

"But  God's  high  wisdom  knows  a  way; 
And  that  is  sure,  let  come  what  may, 
Who  does  God's  work  will  get  God's  pay." 

— Dennis  McCarthy. 

A  PRAYER 

Out  of  the  depths  have  I  cried  unto  thee,  O  Lord!  Hear 
thou  my  cry.  I  need  thee,  for  my  heart  is  blind;  it  is  deceit- 
ful and  desperately  wicked.  Ofttimes  I  cannot  tell  where 
heaven  ends  and  sin  begins.  O  Saviour  of  the  world,  thou 
who  canst  see  the  first  faint  beginnings  of  evil,  have  mercy 
upon  me.  Purify  my  seeing,  sensitize  my  soul,  that  my  whole 
body,  being  full  of  light,  I  may  walk  the  paths  of  righteous- 
ness and  truth.  Glorify  thyself  in  me  this  day,  for  Jesus' 
sake.    Amen. 


Ninth  Week— Seventh  Day- 
Jesus'  gospel  of  stewardship  maintains  that  no  industry  can 
be  Christian  as  long  as  profits  are  made  at  the  expense  of  the 
physical,  moral,  or  spiritual  welfare  either  of  the  workers  or 
the  community.  Josiah  Strong  insisted  that  a  tenement  house 
could  kill  men  just  as  surely  as  an  ax.  The  same  thing  is 
true  with  factories  or  other  industries  where  profits  bHnd 
the  eyes  to  the  welfare  of  the  worker  or  the  good  of  the 
community.  The  words  of  the  prophet  poet  Edwin  Markham 
will  ever  furnish  an  indictment  against  those  who  forget  that 
souls  are  of  greater  value  than  gold: 

191 


[IX-7]       THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"Oh  masters,  lords,  and  rulers  in  all  lands, 
Is  this  the  handiwork  >ou  give  to  God — 
This  monstrous  thing,   distorted  and  soul-quenched? 
How  will  you  ever  straighten  up  this  shape? 

"How  will  it  be  with  kingdoms  and  with  kings — 
With  those  who  shaped  him  to  the  things  he  is — 
When  this  dumb  terror  shall  reply  to  God, 
After  the  silence  of  the  centuries?" 

Moreover,  stewardship  is  not  only  concerned  with  the 
abolition  of  all  forms  of  slavery  and  sweat-shop  methods  of 
production,  but  also  with  the  question  of  whether  a  particular 
industry  is  a  benefit  or  a  detriment  to  the  community.  On 
this  point  Dr.  Bartlett  reminds  us  that  the  "ancient  church 
was  very  sensitive  about  morally  doubtful  trades,  and  refused 
to  receive  for  God's  service,  especially  the  rehef  of  the 
poor,  .  .  .  anything  made  from  such  concerns,  or  to 
accept  as  members  those  who  persisted  in  such  trades." 

Now  we  command  you,  brethren,  in  the  name  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  withdraw  yourselves  from 
every  brother  that  walketh  disorderly,  and  not  after  the 
tradition  which  they  received  of  us.  .  .  .  For  even 
when  we  were  with  you,  this  we  commanded  you,  If  any 
will  not  work,  neither  let  him  eat.     .     .     . 

But  concerning  love  of  t!ie  brethren  ye  have  no  need 
that  one  write  unto  you:  for  ye  yourselves  are  taught  of 
God  to  love  one  another.  .  .  .  Study  to  be  quiet,  and 
to  do  your  own  business,  and  to  work  with  your  hands, 
even  as  we  charged  you;  that  ye  may  walk  becomingly 
toward  them  that  are  without,  and  may  have  need  of 
nothing. — 2  Thess.  3.  6,  10;  i  Thess.  4.  9-12. 


MEDITATION 

To  the  Master  the  kingdom  of  God  is  in  the  very  midst  of 
a  world  bustling  with  all  sorts  of  ceaseless  activities — where 
men  are  buying,  selling,  and  getting  gain.  It  is  no  part  of  his 
plan  to  segregate  his  followers  in  association  camps  or  | 
cloistered  cell.  Rather  would  he  have  them  carry  the  cross 
along  the  thronged  thoroughfares,  and  into  the  very  midst  of 
the  marts  of  trade  and  away  to  the  further  horizon.  In 
barter  and  in  all  the  bustle  of  a  workaday  world  Christians 

192 


I 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-7] 

are  to  interpret  the  law  of  love  in  service  and  sacrifice. — David 
McConaughy. 

"Work!     Thank  God  for  the  might  of  it, 
The  ardor,  the  urge,  the  delight  of  it — 
Work  that  springs  from  the  heart's  desire, 
Setting  the  brain  and  the  soul  on  fire — 

"Oh  what  is  so  good  as  the  heat  of  it, 
And  what  is  so  glad  as  the  beat  of  it. 
And  what  is  so  kind  as  the  stern  command, 
Challenging  brain  and  heart  and  hand!" 

— Angela  Morgan. 

A  PRAYER 

The  day  returns  and  brings  us  the  petty  round  of  irritating 
concerns  and  duties.  Help  us  to  play  the  man;  help  us  to 
perform  them  with  laughter  and  kind  faces;  let  cheerfulness 
abound  with  industry.  Give  us  to  go  blithely  on  our  business 
all  this  day,  bring  us  to  our  resting  beds  weary  and  content 
and  undishonored;  and  grant  us  in  the  end  the  gift  of  sleep. 
Amen. — Robert  Louis  Stevenson. 


193 


OUTLINE— NINTH  WEEK.     BUSINESS  AND 
STEWARDSHIP 

1.  Introductory:  Christianizing  Industry. 

2.  First  Day:  Unfinished  Business — Sin. 

3.  Second  Day:  The  Purpose  of   Business. 

4.  Third  Day :  Business  Preventing  Brotherhood. 

5.  Fourth  Day :   Business  Causing  War. 

6.  Fifth   Day:   Business  and  the  Golden   Rule. 

7.  Sixth  Day :  Acknowledging  God  in  Business. 

8.  Seventh  Day:   Business  vs.   Worker. 

QUESTIONS 

I.  a.  Why  could  men  be  Christian  saints,  during  the  nine- 
teenth century,  under  pagan  theories  of  property,  and 
not  be  able  in  the  twentieth  century?  Were  they  not 
just  as  truly  their  brother's  keeper  in  the  nineteenth 
century  ? 

b.  Is  it  possible  to  be  both  Christian  and  pagan,  a  part  of 

each?     If  so,  what  is  the  result?    If  not,  what  is  the 
result? 

c.  How    may    business    be    recognized    as    a    stewardship? 

d.  Why  must  business  be  Christianized  before  war  can  be 

abohshed? 

e.  In  spite  of   the   selfish  motives  has   not  the   control   of 

weaker  peoples  by  stronger  been  a  blessing? 

/.  Is  it  normal  for  multitudes  to  be  economically  distressed 
in  times  of  peace? 

g.  What  must  be  the  difference  between  a  Christian  solu- 
tion of  industrial  difficulties  and  all  other  solutions? 

h.  Why  must  man  create,  construct,  produce,  or  be  un- 
happy? 

i.  Outline  the  condition  of  laboring  men  as  summarized 
by  Dr.  Rail. 

y.  Is  Christian  brotherhood  possible  under  present  social 
and  industrial  conditions? 

194 


BUSINESS  AND  STEWARDSHIP  [IX-o] 

k.  Why    is    the    industrial-economic    problem    primarily    a 

matter   of   religion   and    stewardship? 
/.  Where  can  a  man  be  definite  in  applying  the  principles 

of  his  religion? 
m.  How  does  a  passion  to  serve  differ  from  subserviency? 

What  results  from  each? 

2.  a.  In   what   way   is   "unfinished   business"   sin?     Must   we 

"finish"  it,  complete  the  job;  or  is  "pressing  forward" 
all  that  is  expected  of  us? 
b.  What  is   the  first   step   toward   Christianizing  industry? 

3.  a.  What  should  be  the  object  of  business? 

b.  What  is  the  promise  to  those  who  seek  first  the  king- 

dom of  God?     Is  it  limited  to  any  part  of  life? 

c.  Is  it  more  difficult  for  business  men  to  be  unselfish  than 

for  other   men? 

4.  a.  What  are  some  of  the  ideals  of  Christian  brotherhood 

with   which  business  now  mterferes? 

5.  a.  How  may  ambition  be   kept  alive   where   men   do   not 

struggle  with  each  other? 
b.  What  reasons  have  you  to  believe  that  Jesus  respects  all 
persons? 

6.  a.  Is  it  possible  for  one  man  to  practice  the  Golden  Rule 

in  industry  when  others  may  not  be  doing  so? 
b.  Is  the  Golden  Rule  a  necessary  part  of  faithful  stew- 
ardship? 

7.  a.  How  can  a  man  enter  the  Kingdom  and  not  admit  that 

the   earth  is   the  Lord's? 

8.  a.  Is  industrial  suicide  as  bad  as  suicide  with  knife,  gun 

or  poison? 

EXERCISES 

1.  Discuss  Bacon's  saying:  "Business  should  be  conducted  to 

the  glory  of  God  and  to  the  welfare  of  the  worker." 

2.  What   do   we   mean   by   "the   Christianizing   of    industry"? 

"The  Golden  Rule"?  "The  Eleventh  Commandment"? 
Unselfishness?  Organized  charity?  Socialism?  Profit 
sharing?  Living  wage?  Sanitation?  Social  hygiene? 
Justice? 

3.  Who  is  a  Christian?    Describe  some  one  you  believe  to  be 

a    Christian. 

195 


[IX-o]      THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

4.  What  part  has  the  Christian  Church  in  present  conditions 

and  their  reform,  at  home?  in  foreign  lands? 

5.  Why  is  the  practice  of  the  Golden  Rule  necessary  to  Chris- 

tianized industry? 

6.  Under  what  conditions  is  one  warranted  in  remaining  in 

employment  that  is  bad   for  his  or  others'  physical  or 
spiritual  welfare? 

7.  How   would   you    discover   the   border-line   between   good 

industry  and  bad?     (Write  your  tests.) 


196 


CHAPTER  X 

Stewardship  and  the  Tithe 


INTRODUCTORY 

"Let  us  think  for  a  moment,"  says  Mr.  Roger  Babson, 
"what  would  happen  if  every  church  member  in  the  United 
States  should  actually  do  as  the  Bible  suggests,  and  set  aside 
one  tenth  of  his  income  for  God.  There  are  about  forty 
million  members  in  our  Christian  churches,  with  about  forty 
billion  dollars  total  income.  Calculate  the  tremendous  power 
summed  up  in  one  tenth  of  that  amount — four  billion  dollars! 
Spent  wisely  and  honestly,  such  a  sum  would  establish  all 
the  additional  schools  necessary  to  fit  our  young  men  and 
women  for  a  religious  life.  It  would  operate  all  the  hospitals 
and  training  schools  needed  to  treat  all  those  who  must  go 
through  life  with  physical  handicaps.  It  would  furnish  suffi- 
cient money  in  a  few  years  time  to  teach  every  living  soul 
the  principles  of  righteousness." 

No  one  has  ever  questioned  that  a  tithe  of  the  income  of 
professing  Christians  would  finance  the  total  program  of  the 
Kingdom;  hut  this  striking  statement  by  a  great  statistician 
cannot  be  accepted  as  a  good  financial  plan  for  the  church 
unless  it  can  be  shown  that  the  plan  in  question  zvould  deepen 
the  spiritual  life  and  bring  about  the  stewardship  revival  which 
is  so  greatly  needed.  The  piling  up  of  vast  sums  of  money, 
as  advantageous  as  that  would  be,  is  not  the  end  of  the  Chris- 
tian program.  There  must  be  spiritual  power  and  results. 
The  Holy  Spirit  can  only  work  through  personalities  who 
have  accepted  at  least  the  beginning  of  Christ's  philosophy  of 
stewardship.  The  question  is :  "Will  tithe-paying  minister 
to  this  end?" 

It  happened  a  few  years  ago  in  Germantown,  Pennsylvania, 
the  writer  was  speaking  to  a  national  gathering  of  a  great 
missionary    society.     The   subject   was    "Stewardship."     The 

197 


IX-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

speaker  was  trying  to  bring  his  hearers  to  see  the  imperative- 
ness of  stewardship  as  the  Christian  philosophy  of  life.  The 
Christianizing  of  money  and  property  was  emphasized  as  the 
key  to  the  solution  of  the  problems  of  labor  and  capital,  as 
well  as  other  personal  problems.  He  ended  with  the  plea  that 
Christians  renounce  ownership  and  subscribe  to  the  platform 
of  Jesus :  "Whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  renounceth  not  all 
that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple."  When  the  appeal  was 
finished  an  opportunity  for  questions  was  given.  A  keen 
young  woman  rose  to  her  feet  and  said  to  the  speaker :  "I 
share  your  solicitude  that  Christian  people  shall  be  possessed 
by  the  stewardship  consciousness.  I  believe  it  must  come 
before  Christ's  Church  can  possess  the  world;  but  how  can 
we  bring  this  message  home?  I  want  to  ask  you  one  ques- 
tion. You  are  acquainted  with  many  Christians  who  truly 
are  possessed  of  the  stewardship  passion.  How  did  it  come 
about?  h  it  not  true  that  most  of  them  began  by  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  principle  of  the  tithe?" 

There  was  only  one  possible  answer  to  make  to  that  ques- 
tion, and  the  speaker  made  it.  "Yes,  it  is  a  fact  that  most 
of  the  people  whom  I  know  as  good  stewards  of  their  pos- 
sessions began  by  setting  apart  the  first  tenth  of  their  income. 
Many  of  them  have  graduated  into  a  real  sense  of  God's 
ownership  of  all,  but  there  is  no  question  as  to  how  they 
began.  Whatever  may  be  said  about  the  perils  of  subscribing 
to  the  ancient  law  of  the  tithe,  it  certainly  has  proved  an 
excellent  schoolmaster  to  lead  men  into  the  experience  of 
stewardship." 

This  fact  of  experience  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  for  it  is 
in  accord  with  the  proverb  that  we  are  not  to  despise  "the 
day  of  small  beginnings."  It  may  be  that  some  exceptional 
persons  do  grasp  the  truth  of  the  personal  ownership  of  God 
all  at  once,  but  most  persons  absorb  truth  by  degrees,  and  it 
probably  remains  true  that  the  best  hope  there  is  of  getting 
the  average  man  really  to  feel  the  stewardship  of  property  is 
by  some  beginning  of  systematic  and  proportionate  support  of 
God's  program  for  the  Kingdom — and  the  tithe  is  such  a 
beginning.  Moreover,  it  carries  with  it  the  advantage  of 
having  a  great  historical  and  spiritual  background. 

And  the  fact  is  that  this  first  step  does  bring  a  decidedly 
spiritual  reaction.  Here  is  a  typical  testimony :  "I  began 
tithing  at  the  beginning  of  the  new  year,  and  it  has  brought 

198 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-i] 

a  new  joy  into  my  Christian  experience."  It  was  the  testi- 
mony of  a  young  working  girl ;  it  can  be  duplicated  a  thou- 
sand times.  Dr.  Robert  E.  Speer  has  said,  "I  think  every 
man  will  find,  as  every  man  who  has  passed  through  the  ex- 
perience can  testify,  that  the  acceptance  of  a  principle  like 
this  marks  a  distinct  era  of  a  spiritual  enlargement  in  his  life." 
Moreover,  the  tenth  as  a  beginning  series  as  a  test  to  the 
honesty  of  purpose  to  accept  stewardship  as  a  life  philosophy. 
It  seems  evident  that  there  is  little  hope  of  combatting  the 
natural  covetousness  of  the  human  heart,  or  of  really  fur- 
nishing an  adequate  support  for  the  Kingdom  program  until 
men  are  ready  to  set  apart  at  least  the  tenth  of  their  income 
as  the  earnest  of  their  consecration. 

There  need  be  no  mystery  about  it.  With  all  the  scriptural 
and  historic  associations  which  gather  around  it,  it  is  a  fair 
expression  of  the  sincerity  of  our  stewardship.  In  spite  of 
all  the  Phariseeism  and  legalism  which  at  times  have  con- 
cealed the  spiritual  meaning  of  the  tithe,  nevertheless  it  has 
marked  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  lives  of  those  who 
have  come  to  practice  it,  and  to  see  in  it: 

The  Acknowledgment  of  God's  Ownership; 

The  Token  of  Our  Surrender; 

The   Fellowship   with   His    Purpose; 

The  Pledge   of   Our  Allegiance; 

The  Witness  of  Our  Faith. 

Indeed,  it  is  not  a  question  of  legalism.  It  seems  fair  to 
say  that  the  average  man,  at  least  the  one  who  has  heard 
of  stewardship,  is  not  so  much  deterred  from  tithing  by  the 
fear  of  legalism  as  by  the  natural  covetousness  of  his  soul. 
"Have  you  paid  God's  income  tax  for  1922?"  was  the  caption 
of  a  recent  stewardship  message  in  a  religious  publication. 
And  why  not?  Of  course  it  ought  to  be  a  voluntary  payment; 
but  even  should  this  not  be  the  case,  who  loves  his  country 
less  because  he  is  compelled  to  pay  an  income  tax?  If  there 
is  any  such  citizen,  certainly  his  patriotism  is  of  a  doubtful 
kind. 

Dr.  George  Clarke  Peck  tells  of  a  mother  who  came  to  open 
her  heart  to  her  pastor  concerning  her  affectionate  but  heed- 
less son :  "Sometimes  he  makes  me  so  glad  that  I  try  to  forget 
how  he  is  breaking  my  heart.  He  will  put  his  arms  around 
me  and  give  me  the  tenderest  kiss,  all  of  impulse,  and  then 
go  out  and  do  things  that  fairly  slay  me."     Then  with  a  look 

199 


[X-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

of  exquisite  suffering  she  added,  "I  would  gladly  do  without 
the  occasional  rapturous  kiss  if  I  could  see  him  steady  and 
faithful."  Does  not  that  remind  one  of  Jesus'  words,  "Not 
every  one  that  saith  unto  me,  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father 
that  is  in  heaven"?  It  seems  as  if  the  time  had  gone  by  when 
Christians  can  talk'  stewardship  and  shy  at  the  tithe. 

Certainly,  there  is  evidence  enough  to  confirm  one  in  believ- 
ing that  Christians  dare  not  longer  neglect  the  tithe  as  a 
first  step  to  stewardship.  It  is  true  that  the  Pharisees  were 
tithers,  but  why  should  any  reasonable  being  condemn  a 
good  habit  because  used  by  a  bad  man?  On  the  other  hand, 
remember  the  long  list  of  great  souls  who  began  their  les- 
sons in  stewardship  with  the  tithe,  and  continued  on  into  the 
deeper  things  of  God.  There  they  are — bankers  and  manu- 
facturers, merchants  and  ministers,  lawyers  and  editors,  edu- 
cators and  statesmen.  What  names  can  be  listed  in  this  order 
of  the  "Knights  of  the  Great  Heart  and  the  Open  Hand!" 

In  confirmation  of  our  proposition  that  the  tithe  is  gener- 
ally the  beginning  of  the  stewardship  alphabet,  Mr.  James  L. 
Sayler,  a  member  of  the  Chicago  bar,  has  in  recent  years 
made  an  interesting  survey.  Concerning  his  findings  he  says 
as  follows :  "It  is  sometimes  said  that  the  princely  givers  to 
the  churches  and  to  charitable  and  educational  purposes  have 
been  men  who  in  the  beginning  of  their  careers  have  set 
aside  a  tenth  of  their  earnings  to  religious  and  charitable  pur- 
poses. The  statement  has  interested  me,  and  I  have  made 
some  effort  to  study  such  biographical  matter  as  can  be 
obtained,  and  through  correspondence  find  the  truth  in  these 
assertions."  Mr.  Sayler  gives  the  result  of  his  survey  in  a 
booklet  entitled  American  Tithers.^  After  telling  the  story 
of  more  than  a  score  of  prominent  American  merchants, 
manufacturers,  bankers,  lawyers,  and  other  leaders,  he  says 
that  he  is  convinced  that  these  examples  justify  one  in  con- 
cluding that  the  decision  to  tithe  has  been  an  important  first 
step  in  the  making  of  a  multitude  of  philanthropists  and 
truly  successful  men. 

As  a  final  testimony,  consider  the  words  of  an  English 
manufacturer,  William  B.  Hartley:  "Probably  the  greatest 
event  of  my  life  occurred  on  January  1st,  1877.     On  that  day 


iThe  Abingdon  Press,  New  York.     48  pages. 
200 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-i] 

my  wife  and  I  made  a  written  vow  that  we  would  devote  a 
definite  share  of  our  income  for  religious  and  humanitarian 
work,  and  that  this  should  be  a  first  charge.  Since  that  date 
we  have  often  increased  the  proportion  so  that  the  original 
percentage  is  left  far  behind.  The  distribution  of  the  Lord's 
portion  has  been  the  greatest  joy  of  my  life  and  a  real  means 
of  grace.  It  has  kept  me  in  constant  touch  with  the  promotion 
of  Christlike  work  of  all  kinds,  and  anything  I  have  been 
able  to  do  for  Christ  and  humanity  (including  profit-sharing 
with  my  work  people  for  over  twenty  years)  has  grown  out 
of  the  vow  made  thirty-three  years  ago." 

We  have  seen  how  experience  teaches  that  the  tithe  is  an 
excellent  first  step  to  the  larger  stewardship.  Now,  we  must 
express  the  conviction  that  any  argument  for  tithe  paying 
that  will  be  permanent  must  take  into  consideration  the  teach- 
ings of  tlie  Scriptures,  together  with  the  traditional  practices 
of  the  Church.  We  believe  that  an  honest  consideration  of 
all  the  available  evidence  would  lead  to  such  a  new  attitude 
toward  tithing  stewardship  as  would  gradually  save  the  church 
from  the  worship  of  mammon,  which  is  the  greatest  enemy  of 
the  Kingdom  at  this  hour. 

But  there  are  some  real  difficulties  in  the  way  of  securing 
such  a  fair  consideration  of  this  subject.  Of  course  the 
natural  covetousness  of  the  human  heart  is  to  be  reckoned 
with.  Here  is  an  instance  in  question.  It  happened  in  a 
Southern  convention.  A  colored  layman  was  the  speaker. 
He  had  risen  to  say,  "While  the  preacher  was  preaching  I 
was  deciding — and  it  is  settled.  I  have  promised  God  that 
forever  hereafter  I  will  pay  the  tithe."  "But,"  he  continued, 
"I  have  a  confession  to  make — and  perhaps  some  of  the  other 
brethren  could  make  the  same  kind — this  ain't  the  first  time 
I've  heard  about  this  tithing  business.  Like  the  rest  of  you, 
I've  caught  glimpses  of  it  in  the  Book;  but  whenever  I  have, 
this  is  what  I've  done :  I've  turned  the  page,  and  said,  'Lord, 
that's   too  deep   for  me.'  " 

But  apart  from  natural  covetousness,  the  greatest  hindrance 
to  a  fair  hearing  for  the  tithe  is  the  prejudice  that  has  grown 
up  from  the  abuses  which  have  followed,  in  those  countries, 
where  tithe  paying  has  been  made  compulsory  by  legal  statute, 
and  the  scandals  that  have  arisen  through  the  misappropria- 
tion and  even  deliberate  stealing  of  the  Lord's  money.  Vol- 
umes could  be  written  on  this  phase  of  the  subject.    We  have 

■  201 


[X-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

only  space  for  a  single  suggestive  reference.  Laws  such  as 
these  from  the  Enghsh  Statutes  under  Henry  VIII  may  have 
been  v^ell  intended,  but  the  reaction  against  them  has  greatly 
retarded  beneficence  in  all  Christendom : 

"Forasmuch  as  divers  numbers  of  evil  disposed  persons 
.  ,  .  having  no  respect  to  their  duties  to  Almighty  God,  but 
against  right  and  good  consciences  have  attempted  to  with- 
hold .  .  .  their  tithes  and  oblations,  as  well  personal  as 
predial,  due  unto  God  and  Holy  Church,"  etc.,  it  was  decreed 
"that  through  all  the  King's  dominions  every  subject,  accord- 
ing to  the  ecclesiastical  laws  and  ordinances  in  this  Church 
of  England,  and  after  the  laudable  usages  and  customs  of  the 
parish  or  other  place  where  he  dwelleth  or  abideth,  shall  yield 
and  pay  his  tithe,"  etc. — Statutes  27,  Henry  VIII. 

Of  course  such  laws  as  these  have  resulted  from  the  union 
of  church  and  state,  but  without  question  they  have  produced 
whirlwinds  of  prejudice  and  opposition  to  the  whole  subject 
of  tithing  stewardship.  The  lesson  is  obvious :  Tithe  paying 
under  the  Christian  system  must  always  remain  a  matter  be- 
tween the  individual  and  his  God.  But  in  saying  this  we  are 
simply  placing  tithe  paying  on  the  same  plane  with  any  other 
Christian  obligation.  This  is  where  Jesus  seems  to  have  left 
it — in  any  case,  earnest  scholars  and  Christian  leaders  in  every 
century  have  thought  that  he  did,  and  the  evidence  is  available 
and  demands  honest  consideration. 

After  eight  years  of  careful  research,  in  which  he  has  traced 
the  history  of  tithing  both  in  and  out  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
in  all  the  centuries  since  the  early  church.  Dr.  Henry  LansdelP 
concludes  that  the  practice  and  preaching  of  tithing  in  the 
Christian  Church  "begins  with  the  very  commencement  of 
church  history,  after  that  recorded  in  the  New  Testament, 
and  continues  steadily  and  increasingly,  nearly  every  century 
yielding  one  or  more  writers  who  persistently  uphold  the 
doctrine  that  the  tenth  of  a  Christian's  income  is  the  property 
of  and  the  least  he  should  offer  to  God.  ...  So  again, 
conversely,  while  we  have  found  all  these  testimonies  in 
favor  of  the  practice  of  tithing,  we  have  not  met  with  a  single 
bishop  of  these  centuries  who  ever  condemned  or  opposed 
the  doctrine,  or  even  suggested  that  less  than  a  tenth  is  the 
proper  portion  to  be  set  apart  for  God's  service." 


^The  Sacred  Tenth,  by  Henry  Lansdell,  D.D.,  vol.  i,  p.  207. 
202 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-i] 

DAILY  READINGS 

Tenth  Week— First  Day 

In  the  following  statement  Dr.  Lansdell  asks  a  question 
which  every  conscientious  Christian  will  desire  to  answer : 
"It  seems  clear,  then,  in  the  light  of  revelation,  and  from 
the  practice  of,  perhaps,  all  ancient  nations,  that  the  man  who 
denies  God's  claim  to  a  portion  of  the  wealth  that  comes  to 
his  hands  is  much  akin  to  a  spiritual  anarchist,  whilst  he 
who  so  apportions  less  than  a  tenth  of  his  income  or  increase 
is  condemned  by  Scripture  as  a  robber.  Indeed,  if  in  the 
days  of  Malachi  not  to  pay  tithe  was  accounted  robbery, 
can  a  Christian  who  withholds  the  tenth  be — now,  any  more 
than    then — accounted   honest    toward   God?" 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  significant  that  the  earliest  instance 
of  worship  recorded  in  the  Bible  is  accompanied  by  the 
offering  of  material  possessions  to  God.  Throughout  the 
Scripture,  generally  speaking,  the  worshiper  is  not  expected 
to  come  before  the  Lord  empty-handed.  This  good  example 
was  set  by  Abel  and  Cain: 

And  in  process  of  time  it  came  to  pass,  that  Cain 
brought  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground  an  offering  imto  Jeho- 
vah. And  Abel,  he  also  brought  of  the  firstlings  of  his 
flock  and  of  the  fat  thereof.  And  Jehovah  had  respect 
unto  Abel  and  his  offering;  but  unto  Cain  and  to  his  offer- 
ing he  had  not  respect.  And  Cain  was  very  wroth,  and  his 
countenance  fell.  And  Jehovah  said  unto  Cain,  Why  art 
thou  wroth?  and  why  is  thy  countenance  fallen?  If  thou 
doest  well,  shall  it  not  be  lifted  up?  and  if  thou  doest  not 
well,  sin  coucheth  at  the  door,  and  unto  thee  shall  be  its 
desire;  but  do  thou  rule  over  it. — Gen.  4.  3-7. 

Moreover,  while  the  evidence  is  not  conclusive,  there  is 
some  reason  to  believe  that  Cain's  downfall  grew  out  of  his 
failure  to  bring  the  right  proportion  of  his  substance  to  the 
altar  as  a  sacrifice.  On  this  point  we  can  quote  the  Septuagint, 
or  Greek  translation  of  Genesis,  in  the  sixth  verse  of  the 
fourth  chapter,  which  says: 

And  the  Lord  said  to  Cain,  Wherefore  didst  thou  be- 
come vexed,  and  wherefore  did  thy  coimtenance  fall?     If 

203 


[X-i]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

thou  didst  rightly  oflfer,  but  did  not  rightly  divide,  didst 
thou  not  sin?   Hold  thy  peace. 

But  the  first  undisputed  mention  of  tithing  in  the  Old 
Testament  is  found  recorded  in  connection  with  Abram's 
presentation  of  the  tenth  of  the  spoils  of  battle  to  the  priest 
Melchizedek.  Evidently,  the  presentation  of  the  "tenth" 
was  made  as  an  act  of  worship  before  God  Most  High,  in 
acknowledgment  that  he  was  "possessor  of  heaven  and  earth." 
An  outstanding  question  that  faces  one  in  this  brief  story- 
is:  Where  did  Abram  leant  the  obligation  to  pay  the  tenthf 
It  is  not  a  sufficient  answer  to  say  that  he  may  have  learned 
it  from  the  surrounding  people  like  the  Assyrians  or 
Babylonians,  who,  according  to  undoubted  evidence,  certainly 
paid  the  tithe  to  their  gods.  Where  did  these  heathen  people 
learn  to  pay  the  tithe?  Dr.  Lansdell  says  concerning  this: 
"We  may  venture  the  hypothesis  that  God  from  the  begin- 
ning taught  Adam  that  it  was  the  duty  of  man  to  render  a 
portion  of  his  increase  to  his  Maker,  and  that  that  portion 
was  to  be  not  less  than  a  tenth;  then  we  shall  see  that  the 
facts  recorded  in  Genesis  not  only  do  not  contradict  such  a 
supposition,  but  corroborate  and  strengthen  it." 

And  the  king  of  Sodom  went  out  to  meet  him,  after 
his  return  from  the  slaughter  of  Chedorlaomer  and  the 
kings  that  were  with  him,  at  the  vale  of  Shaveh  (the  same 
is  the  King's  Vale).  And  Melchizedek  king  of  Salem 
brought  forth  bread  and  wine:  and  he  was  priest  of  God 
Most  High.  And  he  blessed  him,  and  said.  Blessed  be 
Abram  of  God  Most  High,  possessor  of  heaven  and  earth: 
and  blessed  be  God  Most  High,  who  hath  delivered  thine 
enemies  into  thy  hand.    And  he  gave  him  a  tenth  of  all.  .  .  . 

After  these  things  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto 
Abram  in  a  vision,  saying.  Fear  not,  Abram:  I  am  thy 
shield,  and  thy  exceeding  great  reward.  .  .  .  And  he 
brought  him  forth  abroad,  and  said.  Look  now  toward 
heaven,  and  number  the  stars,  if  thou  be  able  to  niunber 
them:  and  he  said  unto  him,  So  shall  thy  seed  be. — Gen.  14. 
17-20;  15.  I,  5. 

MEDITATION 

I  love  truth  as  much  as  any  man,  and  if  one  will  take  me 
by  the  hand,  go  with  me  in  search  of  it  as  of  something  we 
have  both   lost  and   neither  can   do   well  without,  I   will  go 

204 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-2] 

with  him  to  the  end  of  the  world;  but  I  hate  strifes  and  con- 
tentions.— Stern,   Tristram  Shandy. 

"Truth,  be  more  precious  to  me  than  the  eyes 
Of  happy  love ;  burn  hotter  in  my  throat 
Than  passion,  and  possess  me  like  my  pride; 
More  sweet  than  freedom,  more  desired  than  joy, 
More  sacred  than  the  pleasing  of  a   friend." 

— Max  Eastman. 

A  PRAYER 

Almighty  God,  from  whom  all  good  things  come ;  give  thy 
grace,  we  humbly  beseech  thee,  to  those  whom  thou  hast 
intrusted  with  riches;  that  they,  as  faithful  stewards,  may  dis- 
pense them  in  the  service  of  thy  kingdom  for  the  increase 
thereof;  to  the  honor  and  praise  of  Him,  who,  though  he  was 
rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  became  poor,  thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord.    Amen. — Bishop  Wilbur  P.  Thirkield. 


Tenth  Week— Second  Day 

In  to-day's  Scripture  the  tithe  emerges  out  of  the  mists  of 
the  patriarchal  days  and  becomes  an  institution  in  the  life 
of  the  Hebrew  people.  It  should  be  noted  that  even  as  God 
did  not  give  the  Sabbath  as  a  new  institution,  but  said 
"Remember  the  Sabbath  day,"  so  he  does  not  refer  to  tithe 
paying  as  a  new  requirement,  but  reminds  the  people  that  the 
"tithe  is  the  Lord's."  There  is  only  one  reasonable  infer- 
ence to  be  made,  namely,  the  ancient  and  holy  obligation 
which  Abraham  had  been  taught  in  common  with  the  heathen 
peoples  is  henceforth  to  be  embodied  in  the  new  code  of 
laws  of  the  chosen  people. 

But  it  ought  to  be  observed  at  this  point  that  paying  the 
tithe  was  much  more  than  giving;  it  was  the  acknowledgment 
of  God's  worship.  An  indirect  though  vivid  argument  for 
systematic  giving  came  some  time  ago  from  a  mission  worker 
who  reported  the  words  of  a  woman  in  a  submerged  section 
of  the  city.  "I  do  not  understand,"  said  the  East  Sider,  "how 
you  women  can  comb  your  hair  every  day;  I  comb  mine  once 
a  year,  and  then  it  nearly  kills  me!"  It  can  be  added  that 
system  in  giving,  like  system  in  hair-combing,  would  save 
many  unnecessary  pains.     But  God's  purpose   in   asking  the 

205 


[X-2]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

tenth  rises  above  systematic  giving;  indeed,  the  true  steward 
cannot  give  any  thing  to  God.  All  that  he  has  to  give  is  his 
own  purpose  to  be  faithful  in  his  stewardship.  Accordingly, 
whether  he  pays  the  tenth  or  some  other  proportion  to  the 
work  of  the  church,  or  whatever  proportion  he  uses  for  his 
own  family — all  of  it  is  God's.  Accordingly,  the  payment 
of  the  tithe  as  commanded  to  the  new  Hebrew  nation  was 
primarily  a  means  of  securing  the  acknowledgment  of  God's 
sovereign   ownership. 

And  all  the  tithe  of  the  land,  whether  of  the  seed  of  the 
land,  or  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree,  is  Jehovah's:  it  is  holy 
unto  Jehovah.  And  if  a  man  will  redeem  aught  of  his 
tithe,  he  shall  add  unto  it  the  fifth  part  thereof.  And  all 
the  tithe  of  the  herd  or  the  flock,  whatsoever  passeth 
under  the  rod,  the  tenth  shall  be  holy  unto  Jehovah.  He 
shall  not  search  whether  it  be  good  or  bad,  neither 
shall  he  change  it :  and  if  he  change  it  at  all,  then  both  it 
and  that  for  which  it  is  changed  shall  be  holy;  it  shall  not 
be  redeemed.  These  are  the  commandments,  which  Jeho- 
vah commanded  Moses  for  the  children  of  Israel  in  mount 
Sinai. 

The  law  of  Jehovah  is  perfect,  restoring  the  soul: 
The    testimony    of    Jehovah    is    sure,    making    wise    the 

simple. 
The  precepts  of  Jehovah  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart: 
The  commandment  of  Jehovah  is  pure,  enlightening  the 

eyes. 
The  fear  of  Jehovah  is  clean,  enduring  forever: 
The   ordinances  of  Jehovah  are   true,   and  righteous  al- 
together.— Lev.  27.  30-34;  Psa.  19.  7-9. 

MEDITATION 

A  profound  conviction  raises  a  man  above  the  feeling  of 
ridicule. — John  Stuart  Mill. 

For  what,  in  dealing  with  this  obligation,  did  the  Jews  not 
do?  They  contributed  tithes,  and  tithes  again  for  the  orphans, 
widows,  and  proselytes.  Now,  however,  we  are  wont  to  hear 
such  and  such  a  one  say  with  astonishment,  "So  and  so  gives 
tithes !"  How  great  a  disgrace,  I  ask,  is  this :  and  what  among 
the  Jews  was  no  matter  of  astonishment  or  celebrity,  has 
now  among  Christians  become  a  matter  of   surprise.     If   it 

206 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-3] 

were  a  dangerous  thing  to  fail  in  giving  tithes  then,  to  be 
sure  it  is  much  more  dangerous  now. — Chrysostom. 

"Man's  life  is  but  a  working  day 
Whose   tasks  are   set  aright; 
A  time  to  work,  a  time  to  play, 
And    then    a    quiet    night. 

"And  then,  please  God,   a  quiet  night 
Where  palms  are   green  and   robes   are   white. 
A  long-drawn  breath,   a  balm  of   sorrow. 
And  all  things  lovely  on  the  morrow." 

— Christina    G.    Rossetti. 

A  PRAYER 

O  God,  my  Saviour,  teach  me  thy  will.  What  hast  thou 
for  me  to  do  this  day?  What  hast  thou  for  me  to  sayf  Open 
thou  my  lips,  that  I  may  speak,  hut  open  first  mine  ears  that 
I  may  hear.  Help  me  to  wait  upon  thy  word.  Save  me  from 
lost  opportunities  and  from  mistakes.  Reveal  to  me  thy  every 
detail  for  my  life.  In  nothing  let  me  live  apart  from  thee. 
Sanctify  7ny  home,  my  place  of  business,  and  my  resting 
hours.  So  let  thy  heaven  for  me  begin  on  earth  below,  for 
Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


Tenth  Week— Third  Day- 
It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Jew  stopped  with  the 
first  tithe.  That,  indeed,  acknowledged  God's  sovereignty, 
but  it  did  not  fulfill  his  obligation.  If  some  modern  Chris- 
tians have  supposed  that  the  tenth  as  a  voluntary  tax  for  the 
support  of  the  Kingdom  is  a  hardship,  let  them  recall  that 
the  Jew  was  yearly  asked  for  an  amount  that  is  estimated 
anywhere  from  a  fourth  to  a  third  of  his  income. 

In  addition  to  the  first  tithe,  there  was  the  second  or  festi- 
val tithe;  and  then,  in  addition  to  this,  every  third  year  a 
third  tithe  for  the  poor,  the  widowed,  and  the  orphaned.  The 
Scriptures  seem  to  be  perfectly  clear  on  this.  Moreover,  we 
have  the  testimony  of  several  ancient  writers.  For  instance, 
Josephus  says :  "Besides  those  two  tithes  which  I  have  already 
said  you  are  to  pay  every  year,  the  one  for  the  Levites  and 
the  other  for  the  festivals,  you  are  to  bring  every  third  year 
a  tithe  to  be  distributed  to  those  that  want;  to  women  also 

207 


[X-3]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

that  are  widows,  and  to  children  that  are  orphans."    The  com- 
mand for  the  "festival"  tithe  reads  thus: 

Thou  shalt  surely  tithe  all  the  increase  of  thy  seed,  that 
which  Cometh  forth  from  the  field  year  by  year.  And  thou 
shalt  eat  before  Jehovah  thy  God,  in  the  place  which  he 
shall  choose,  to  cause  his  name  to  dwell  there,  the  tithe 
of  thy  grain,  of  thy  nfew  wine,  and  of  thine  oil,  and  the 
firstlings  of  the  herd  and  of  thy  flock;  that  thou  mayest 
learn  to  fear  Jehovah  thy  God  always. — Deut.  14.  22,  23. 

It  seems  that  the  purpose  of  this  second  tithe  was  to  enable 
the  Israelite  to  assemble  with  his  family  at  the  sanctuary  at 
stated  times  during  the  year,  for  the  offering  of  sacrifices 
and  for  feasting  before  the  Lord.  In  the  twelfth  chapter  of 
Deuteronomy  it  is  written : 

And  thither  ye  shall  bring  your  burnt  offerings,  and  your 
sacrifices,  and  your  tithes,  .  .  .  and  there  ye  shall  eat 
before  Jehovah  your  God,  and  ye  shall  rejoice,  ...  ye 
and  your  households. 

The  third,  or  charity  tithe,  seems  to  be  a  prophecy  that  had 
its  fulfillment  at  Pentecost  when  the  members  of  the  church 
gladly  ministered  to  the  brethren  "as  any  had  need,"  even  to 
the  selling  of  their  property  to  obtain  the  funds.  This  was 
indeed  stewardship  at  its  best. 

At  the  end  of  every  three  years  thou  shalt  bring  forth  all 
the  tithe  of  thine  increase  in  the  same  year,  and  shalt  lay 
it  up  within  thy  gates :  and  the  Levite,  because  he  hath  no 
portion  nor  inheritance  with  thee,  and  the  sojourner,  and 
the  fatherless,  and  the  widow,  that  are  within  thy  gates, 
shall  come,  and  shall  eat  and  be  satisfied;  that  Jehovah  thy 
God  may  bless  thee  in  all  the  work  of  thy  hand  which  thou 
doest.    .    .    . 

Trust  in  Jehovah  with  all  thy  heart. 
And  lean  not  upon  thine  own  understanding: 
In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him. 
And  he  will  direct  thy  paths.     .     .    . 
Honor  Jehovah  with  thy  substance. 
And  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  thine  increase : 
So  shall  thy  bams  be  filled  with  plenty. 
And  thy  vats  shall  overflow  with  new  wine. 

— Deut.   14.  28,  29;   Prov.  3.  5,  6,  9,   10. 
208 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-4] 

MEDITATION 

The  Christian  who  measures  his  giving  by  the  standards 
laid  down  in  the  New  Testament  will  ask  himself,  "What  pro- 
portion of  the  income  which  God  has  given  me  the  ability 
to  earn  would  he  have  me  keep  for  myself?"  instead  of, 
"How  much  ought  I  to  give  to  him?"  With  these  standards 
in  vogue  we  would  have  fewer  church  members  who  spend 
more  for  the  upkeep  of  their  automobiles  than  they  do  for 
the  upkeep  of  the  Kingdom.  I  am  not  raising  any  moral 
issue,  nor  saying  what  one  should  or  should  not  spend  his 
money  for.  I  am  making  an  appeal  for  Christian  men  and 
women  to  give  first  things  first  place;  and  I  do  say  emphatically 
that  there  is  something  radically  wrong  with  the  viewpoint 
of  the  church  member  who  gives  his  luxuries  first  place  in 
his  financial  calculations,  and  the  support  of  the  kingdom  of 
God  second  place. — William  J.  Elliott. 

"When   I   survey  the  wondrous   cross 
On  which  the  Prince  of  Glory  died, 
My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss. 

And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

"Were  the  whole  realm   of  nature  mine, 

That  were  a  present   far  too   small; 
Love   so   amazing,    so    divine. 

Demands  my  soul,  my  hfe,  my  all." 

— Isaac  Watts. 
A  PRAYER 

Most  gracious  God,  the  fountain  of  all  blessing,  thou  hast 
opened  thy  hand  to  fill  us  with  all  good  things;  thou  dost 
govern  us  as  a  king ;  thou  feedest  us  like  a  shepherd;  thou 
keepest  us  beneath  the  shadows  of  thy  wing  in  safety;  thou 
providest  for  us  as  a  father;  thou  lovest  us  as  a  friend,  and 
thinkest  on  us  perpetually,  and  are  exceeding  merciful  to 
all  that  fear  thee;  and  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  we  ascribe  the 
praise  and  honor  of  our  redemption.  Amen. — Bishop  Wilbur 
P.  Thirkield. 


Tenth  Week— Fourth  Day 

The  history  of  tithing  stewardship  makes  it  clear  that  tithe 
paying  degenerates  when  it  is   forgotten  that  the  purpose  is 

209 


[X-4]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

not  so  much  to  get  the  tithe  as  the  tither.  While  the  Scrip- 
ture makes  it  clear  that  the  tithe  was  necessary  to  sustain  the 
priesthood  and  the  house  of  worship,  yet  the  beautiful  ritual 
which  was  given  to  the  Hebrew  and  which  he  was  to  repeat 
whenever  he  came  with  his  first  fruits  and  tithes,  makes  it 
appear  that  God's  primary  concern  was  that  his  children 
should  remember  and  acknowledge  their  dependence  upon  the 
Lord,  the  Giver.  Accordingly,  the  worshiper  would  come  be- 
fore the  priest,  and  presenting  his  tithes  and  offerings,  would 
say,  "I  profess  this  day  unto  Jehovah  my  God,  that  I  am  come 
unto  the  land  which  Jehovah  sware  unto  our  fathers  to  give 
us"    (Deut.  26.  3). 

After  the  priest  had  taken  what  was  ofifered,  in  equally 
significant  language  the  worshiper  would  acknowledge  his 
stewardship,  by  saying: 

A  Syrian  ready  to  perish  was  my  father;  and  he  went 
down  into  Egypt,  and  sojourned  there,  few  in  number; 
and  he  became  there  a  nation,  great,  mighty,  and  popu- 
lous. And  the  Egyptians  dealt  ill  with  us,  and  afflicted 
us,  and  laid  upon  us  hard  bondage:  and  we  cried  unto 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  our  fathers,  and  Jehovah  heard  our 
voice,  and  saw  our  affliction,  and  our  toil,  and  our 
oppression;  and  Jehovah  brought  us  forth  out  of  Egypt 
with  a  mighty  hand,  and  with  an  outstretched  arm,  and 
with  great  terribleness,  and  with  sig^s,  and  with  won- 
ders; and  he  hath  brought  us  into  this  place,  and  hath 
given  us  this  land,  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey. 
And  now,  behold,  I  have  brought  the  first  of  the  fruit  of 
the  ground,  which  thou,  O  Jehovah,  hast  given  me. 

—Deut.  26.  5-10. 

But  another  thing  should  be  noticed  as  taught  in  the  law, 
namely,  that  the  persons  who  refused  to  acknowledge  God's 
sovereignty  by  the  payment  of  the  tithe  were  not  merely 
guilty  of  oversight  or  neglect,  hut  of  actual  robbery.  But 
the  offenders  themselves  were  most  to  be  pitied.  Obviously, 
God  can  get  along.  But  the  heart  of  the  Great  Steward 
yearned  that  those  wayward  Israelites  should  know  the  faith 
that  a  child  should  have  in  his  father.  "Prove  me  now"  was 
the  appeal.  It  sounds  very  hke  that  later  appeal  from  the  lips 
of  Jesus,  "Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  .  .  .  and  all 
these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you." 

210 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-4] 

Instead  of  asking  the  question,  "Should  a  Christian  observe 
the  statutes  of  the  Old  Testament?"  can  we  not  approach 
the  matter  from  another  way?  Is  there  any  promise  in  the 
Old  Testament  that  is  denied  the  new  follower  of  Christ? 

Will  a  man  rob  God?  yet  ye  rob  me.  But  ye  say, 
Wherein  have  we  robbed  thee?  In  tithes  and  offerings. 
Ye  are  cursed  with  the  curse;  for  ye  rob,  even  this 
whole  nation.  Bring  ye  the  whole  tithe  into  the  store- 
house, that  there  may  be  food  in  my  house,  and  prove  me 
now  herewith,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not 
open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a 
blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive 
It.— Mai.  3.  8-10. 

MEDITATION 

The  need  of  the  hour  is  for  a  church  that  lovingly  pays  to 
God  at  least  the  first  fruits  of  all  time,   energy,  and  money. 

— Frederick  A.  Agar. 

To  recognize  the  spiritual  content  of  money,  and  rescue  it 
from  sordidness  and  greed — this  should  be  the  saving  evangel 
of  our  generation. — Harvey  Reeves  Calkins. 

"Vice  is  a  monster  of  so   frightful  mien 
As  to  be  hated  needs  but  to  be  seen; 
Yet    seen    too    oft,    familiar    with    her    face, 
We  first   endure,   then   pity,   then   embrace." 

— Alexander  Pope, 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus,  who  for  our  sakes  didst  become  poor,  we 
pray  thee  to  protect  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world,  that  they 
may  not  he  high-minded  nor  trust  in  uncertain  riches,  but  in 
thee,  the  living  God,  who  givest  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy. 
Grant  them  grace  so  to  use  their  wealth  that  they  may  do  good 
and  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to  distribute  and  willing 
to  communicate;  willing  to  lay  in  store  for  themselves  a  good 
foundation  against  the  time  to  come,  that  they  may  lay  hold 
on  eternal  life;  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. — Saint  Paul — 
I.  Tim.  6.  17.' 

^Service  and  Prayers  for  Church  and  Home,  by  Bishop  Wilbur  Patterson 
Thirkield. 

211 


[X-5]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

Tenth  Week— Fifth  Day 

Coming  now  to  the  New  Testament,  it  seems  impossible  to 
discover  that  there  is  anything  new  taught  concerning  the 
necessity  and  methods  of  the  stewardship  of  possessions. 
There  is  the  same  insistence  that  worship  is  insincere  which 
comes  empty-handed.  There  is  stressed  the  importance  of 
systematic  and  proportionate  beneficence.  The  tithe  seems 
to  be  indorsed  as  a  bottom  standard,  and  free  will  gifts  are 
urged  just  as  they  were  in  the  Old  Testament.  The  only 
difference  seems  to  he  that  the  New  Testament  exhorts  Chris- 
tians to  do  as  a  matter  of  loving  loyalty  zvhat,  in  the  old 
dispensation,  was  made  a  matter  of  law.  A  comparison  of 
the  following  passages  of  Scripture  will  indicate  this  common 
teaching  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  It  should  be  noted, 
however,  that  while  neither  of  these  references  refers  spe- 
cifically to  the  tithe,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
both  are  taking  its  payment  for  granted,  and  therefore  are 
urging  the  additional  gifts  according  as  the  worshiper  has 
been  prospered : 

Three  times  in  a  year  shall  all  thy  males  appear  before 
Jehovah  thy  God  in  the  place  which  he  shall  choose:  in 
the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  and  in  the  feast  of  weeks, 
and  in  the  feast  of  tabernacles;  and  they  shall  not  appear 
before  Jehovah  empty:  every  man  shall  give  as  he  is  able, 
according  to  the  blessing  of  Jehovah  thy  God  which  he 
hath  given  thee. 

Now  concerning  the  collection  for  the  saints,  as  I  gave 
order  to  the  churches  of  Galatia,  so  also  do  ye.  Upon 
the  first  day  of  the  week  let  each  one  of  you  lay  by  him 
in  store,  as  he  may  prosper,  that  no  collections  be  made 
when  I  come.  And  when  I  arrive,  whomsoever  ye  shall 
approve,  them  will  I  send  with  letters  to  carry  your 
bounty  unto  Jerusalem. — Deut.  i6.  i6,  17;  i  Cor.  16.  1-3. 

As  an  illustration  of  how  love,  which  is  the  New  Testa- 
ment principle,  may  begin  with  the  tenth  but  will  not  end 
there,  Mr.  David  McConaughy^  has  prepared  the  following 
suggestive  outline.  It  will  be  an  interestng  study  to  discover 
how  every  one  of  the  New-Testament  references  can  be 
matched   by  another   reference  to   some   great   soul,   who,   in 

^Stewardship  Department,  Ncrthern  Presbyterian  Church. 
212 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-5] 

the  darker  days  of  the  old  dispensation,  did  actually  climb  to 
the  New  Testament  heights  and  caught  real  visions  of  the 
taller  reaches  of  loyal  stewardship : 

I.  "A  tenth" — paid  by  pagans — Gen.  4.  3. 
II.  "The  tenth" — paid   by  patriarchs — Gen.  28.   22. 

III.  "Tithes" — paid  by  Israel — (a)   Lev.  27.  30; 

(b)  Deut.    14.   22; 

(c)  Deut.    14.   28-29. 

IV.  "The  half" — paid  by  Zacchaeus — Luke   19.  8. 

V.  "As  prospered" — Paul's    rule    for   free   will    offerings 

— I    Cor.    16.    2. 
VI.  "To   their  power  and  beyond" — Macedonian   converts 

—2  Cor.  8.  5. 
VII.  "All" — the  poor  widow — Mark  12.  41. 

Each  of  these  New-Testament  references  is  worth  care- 
ful study.  They  seem  to  illustrate  what  Jesus  taught  in 
these  words  from  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount: 

Think  not  that  I  came  to  destroy  the  law  or  the  proph- 
ets: I  came  not  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfilL  For  verily  I 
say  unto  you,  Till  heaven  and  earth  pass  away,  one  jot 
or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  away  from  the  law,  till 
all  things  be  accomplished.  Whosoever  therefore  shall 
break  one  of  these  least  commandments,  and  shall  teach 
men  so,  shall  be  called  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven: 
but  whosoever  shall  do  and  teach  them,  he  shall  be  called 
great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. — Matt.  5.  17-19. 


MEDITATION 

If  the  tithe  is  not  paid  because  it  is  Jewish,  then  propor- 
tionate giving  is  equally  Jewish  and  should  not  be  followed. 
The  Old  and  New  Testaments  can  neither  be  divorced  nor 
put  in  antagonism;  they  supplement  and  complement  each 
other.     God's   "Law"    and   God's   "Grace"    are    not   opposed. 

—Elijah    W.   Halford. 

It  is  astonishing  how  soon  the  whole  conscience  begins  to 
unravel  if  a  single  stitch  drops ;  one  little  sin  indulged  makes 
a  hole  you  could  put  your  head  through. — Charles  Buxton. 

21Z 


[X-6]        THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

"In  all  the  little  things  of  life, 

Thyself,  Lord,  may  I  see; 
In  little  and  in  great  alike 
Reveal  thy  love  to  me. 

"So  shall  my  undivided  life 

To   thee,   my   God,   be  given; 
And  all  this  earthly  course  below 
Be  one  dear  path  to  heaven." 

— Horatio  Bonar. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord,  we  love  thee,  we  magnify  thee,  we  worship  thee! 
In  loving  loyalty  we  place  upon  thine  altar  our  all — of  time, 
of  talents,  and  of  earthly  store,  clinging  to  thy  assurance  that 
we  love  thee  because  thou  hast  first  loved  us.  All  this  day 
long,  we  beseech  thee,  that  beside  our  every  path  of  service 
thou  wilt  be  our  comrade  and  our  strength.  So  grant  us 
this  grace  that,  being  enabled  faithfully  to  fulfill  the  steward- 
ship of  all  our  days,  we  may  enter  into  like  labors  in  thy 
eternal  kingdom,  through  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. — J.  Homer 
Slutz. 


Tenth  Week— Sixth  Day 

Did  Jesus  advocate  by  example  and  precept  the  paying 
of  the  tithe  as  the  acknowledgment  of  stewardship?  Look- 
ing at  our  Lord's  perfect  example  in  scrupulously  keeping 
the  law,  we  are  led  to  infer  that  he  not  only  paid  tithes  and 
all  other  religious  dues,  but  that  he  probably  exceeded  what 
the  law  required. 

Dr.  LansdelP  makes  the  above  statement  after  showing  (i) 
that  in  Jesus'  day  tithe  paying  was  not  only  recognized  as 
a  duty  but  was  especially  "in  the  air,"  owing  to  the  activity 
of  the  Pharisees;  (2)  that  the  Pharisees,  who  were  ever  look- 
ing for  an  opportunity  to  condemn  Jesus,  never  did  accuse 
him  of  failure  in  this  regard;  (3)  that  the  New  Testament 
portrays  Jesus  as  exceedingly  careful  in  his  observance  of  the 
law.  His  insistence  upon  being  baptized  by  John  at  the  River 
Jordan  is  one  of  the  several  instances  recorded  in  the  Scrip- 
ture. 


^The  Sacred  Tenth,  by  Henry  Lansdell.D.D.,  vol.  i,  chap,  xiv  and  xv. 
214 


I 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-6] 

Then  cometh  Jesus  from  Galilee  to  the  Jordan  unto 
John,  to  be  baptized  of  him.  But  John  would  have 
hindered  him,  saying,  I  have  need  to  be  baptized  of  thee, 
and  comest  thou  to  me?  But  Jesus  answering  said  unto 
him,  Suffer  it  now:  for  thus  it  becometh  us  to  fulfill  all 
righteousness.    Then  he  suffereth  him. — Matt.  3.  13-16. 

But  we  should  do  Jesus  wrong  unless  we  see  that  it  was 
the  principle  of  the  tithe  that  he  was  advocating.  This  means 
that  it  was  the  principle  of  acknowledgment  that  he  saw,  back 
of  the  tithe.  He  did  not  command  afresh  "as  from  a  New 
Testament  Sinai"  the  law  of  the  tithe  any  more  than  he  did 
the  law  of  the  Sabbath  or  the  law  against  murder  or  steal- 
ing. But  just  as  he  sought  to  lift  his  disciples  into  a  new 
atmosphere  where  they  could  see  the  spiritual  significance  of 
the  Mosaic  laws,  and  the  far-reaching  and  binding  principles 
running  through  them,  this  was  his  purpose  in  his  undoubted 
indorsement  of  tithe  paying.  This  was  indeed  the  point  of 
his  criticism  of  the  Pharisees.  He  told  them  that  they  did 
well  to  pay  tithes,  but  that  they  did  wrong  in  thinking  that 
the  tithe,  or  any  other  holy  habit,  is  an  end  in  itself.  The 
failure  of  the  Pharisees  was  a  failure  to  perceive  the  tenth 
as  the  acknowledgment  of  the  total  surrender  of  all  posses- 
sions, and  the  pledge  of  a  godly  life  of  mercy  and  justice. 
And  it  may  be  added  that  any  lesser  conception  of  the  tithe 
than  that  which  Jesus  had  in  mind  is  bound  to  end  in  narrow- 
ness and  legalism. 

Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for 
ye  tithe  mint  and  anise  and  cummin,  and  have  left  undone 
the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  justice,  and  mercy,  and 
faith:  but  these  ye  ought  to  have  done,  and  not  to  have 
left  the  other  undone.  Ye  blind  guides,  that  strain  out 
the  gnat,  and  swallow  the  camel !     .     .     . 

And  if  any  man  would  go  to  law  with  thee,  and  take 
away  thy  coat,  let  him  have  thy  cloak  also.  And  whoso- 
ever shall  compel  thee  to  go  one  mile,  go  with  him  two. 
Give  to  him  that  asketh  thee,  and  from  him  that  would 
borrow  of  thee  turn  not  thou  away. — Matt.  23.  23,  24;  5. 
40-42. 

MEDITATION 

Whoso  neglects  a  thing  which  he  suspects  he  ought  to  do, 
215 


[X-7]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

because  it  seems  to  him  too  small  a  thing,  is  deceiving  him- 
self; it  is  not  too  little,  but  too  great  for  him,  that  he  doeth 
it  not. — E.  B.  Pusey. 

We  do  not  give  God  a  fraction  of  that  which  we  possess, 
but  we  loyally  acknowledge  God's  sovereignty  over  the  whole. 

— Harris    Franklin    Rail. 

"The  roses  red  upon  my  neighbor's  vine 
Are  owned  by  him,  but  they  are  also  mine. 
His  was  the  cost,  and  his  the  labor  too, 
But  mine  as   well   as   his   the  joy   their   loveliness   to   view. 

"They  bloom  for  me,  and  are  for  me  as  fair, 
As   for  the  man  who  gives   them  all  his  care. 
Thus  I  am  rich,  because  a  good  man  grew 
A  rose-clad  vine  for  all  his  neighbors'  view. 

"I  know  from  this  that  others  plant  for  me, 
And  what  they  own,  my  joy  may  also  be, 
So  why  be  selfish,  when  so  much  that's  fine 
Is  grown   for  you  upon  your  neighbors'  vine?" 

— Abraham  Gruber. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Lord  Jesus,  our  Divine  Saviour,  teach  us  now  and  always 
to  understand  that  blessed  is  the  man  who  endureth  pros- 
perity; whose  riches  turn  neither  his  head  nor  his  heart;  who 
"seekcth  not  his  ow^i"  to  the  neglect  of  his  neighbor;  who 
blesseth  the  world  with  his  substance;  for  at  the  last  he  will 
receive  the  "Well  done"  of  the  faithful  steward  of  Jesus 
Christ.     Amen. 


Tenth  Week— Seventh  Day 

Dr.  John  Henry  Jowett  tells  of  a  call  on  a  Christian  cobbler 
who  cobbled  in  his  little  shop  by  the  sea.  The  preacher  sat 
down  by  the  work-bench  and  watched  the  man  at  his  work, 
and  listened  to  the  steady  beat  of  the  pegging  hammer.  Little 
by  little  the  monotony  of  the  work,  the  narrowness  of  the 
room,  and  the  light  from  only  one  window  brought  a  spirit 
of  depression  over  the  watcher,  and  he  cried  at  length,  "Man, 
don't   you    ever   get    tired    of    this    narrow    life?"      The    old 

216 


1 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-7] 

cobbler  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  brushing  the  litter 
from  his  apron,  and  reached  out  his  hand  and  opened  the 
door,  saying,  "Whenever  I  feel  like  that.  Pastor,  I  open  this 
door";  and  the  preacher  looked  out  of  that  door  on  an  ever- 
widening  sea.  He  said,  "Immediately  that  little  room  was 
glorified  by  the  vastness  of  its  relationships — to  fields  and 
skies  and  the  rolling  sea — and  to   the  Creator  of  them  all." 

It  will  be  like  this  with  the  tithe — a  little  thing  in  itself, 
and,  if  kept  apart  from  its  large  and  holy  relationships,  a 
dwarfing  thing.  But  when  the  tithe  is  used  as  God  com- 
manded it  to  he  used — as  the  door  into  the  larger  life  of  stew- 
ardship— it  not  only  becomes  the  much-needed  "sinews  of 
war,"  but  also  the  witness  of  our  faith  and  the  pledge  of  our 
allegiance  to  the  blessed  God.  Moreover,  through  the  open 
door  of  the  tithe  Christ  floods  every  chamber  of  the  soul,  and 
shows  us  how  to  take  the  common  things  of  life  and  make 
them  beautiful.  To  quote  Bishop  Edwin  H.  Hughes:  "Few 
things  could  happen  so  far-reaching  and  high-reaching  in  the 
life  of  the  church  as  the  recruiting  of  an  army  of  tithers,  who, 
declining  to  be  Pharisees,  and  refusing  to  be  bound  by  any 
mere  law,  still  use  the  tithe  in  giving  to  the  work  of  God  as 
a  schoolmaster  to  lead  them  to  Christ.  After  such  an  army 
the  windows  of  heaven  would  not  remain  shut;  and  the 
assured  blessing  would  come  from  God."  Surely  the  fear 
of  the  Old-Testament  legalism  has  played  havoc  with  us, 
even  to  the  blinding  of  eyes  to  that  eternal  relationship  which 
Jesus  said  existed  between  the  law  and  the  gospel :  "Till 
heaven  and  earth  pass,  one  jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise 
pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled"   (Matt.  5.  18). 

Certainly,  God  still  requires — and  primarily  for  the  sake  of 
those  who  love  him — a  material  acknowledgment  of  his  sov- 
ereign ownership.  What  Christian  will  desire  to  bring  a 
smaller  proportion  than  did  the  Jew?  As  Dr.  J.  Campbell 
White  says,  "The  strongest  passage  in  the  Bible  on  the  en- 
forcement of  the  tithe  does  not  say  anything  directly  about 
tithing,  but  it  states  a  principle  which  applies  to  all  the  law 
of  God." 

There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  that 
are  in  Christ  Jesus.  For  the  law  of  the  spirit  of  life  in 
Christ  Jesus  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  of 
death.     For  what  the  law  could  not  do,   in  that  it  was 

217 


[X-7]         THE  MESSAGE  OF  STEWARDSHIP 

weak  through  the  flesh,  God,  sending  his  own  Son  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh  and  for  sin,  condemned  sin  in 
the  flesh:  that  the  ordinance  of  the  law  might  be  fulfilled 
in  us,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit.     .     .     . 

Render  to  all  their  dues:  tribute  to  whom  tribute  is 
due;  custom  to  whom  custom;  fear  to  whom  fear;  honor 
to  whom  honor.  Owe  no  man  anything,  save  to  love 
one  another:  for  he  that  loveth  his  neighbor  hath  ful- 
filled the  law.  For  this.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery, 
Thou  shalt  not  kill.  Thou  shalt  not  steal.  Thou  shalt  not 
covet,  and  if  there  be  any  other  commandment,  it  is 
summed  up  in  this  word,  namely.  Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor   as   thyself. — Rom.   8.   1-4;    13.    7-9. 

MEDITATION 

In  regard  to  money  as  well  as  to  time,  there  is  great  advan- 
tage in  its  methodical  use.  Especially  is  it  wise  to  dedicate 
a  certain  portion  of  our  means  to  purposes  of  charity  and 
religion,  and  this  is  more  easily  begun  in  youth  than  in  after 
life.  The  greatest  advantage  of  making  a  little  fund  of  this 
kind  is  that  when  we  are  asked  to  give,  the  competition  is  not 
between  self  on  the  one  hand  and  charity  on  the  other,  but 
between  the  different  purposes  of  religion  and  charity  with 
one  another,  among  which  we  ought  to  make  the  most  careful 
choice.  It  is  desirable  that  the  fund  thus  devoted  should  not 
he  less  than  one  tenth  of  our  means;  and  it  tends  to  bring  a 
blessing  on  the   rest. — William   Gladstone. 

"And,  as  the  path  of  duty  is  made  plain. 
May  grace  be  given  that  I  may  walk  therein, 
Not  like  the  hirehng,  for  his  selfish  gain, 
With  backward  glances   and   reluctant  tread, 
Making  a  merit  of  his  coward  dread. 
But  cheerfully,  in  the  light  around  me  thrown, 
Walking  as  one  to  pleasant  service  led; 
Doing  God's  will  as  if  it  were  my  own, 
Yet  trusting  not  in  mine,  but  in  his  strength  alone !" 

— John  G.   Whittier. 

A  PRAYER 

O  Eternal  God,  the  very  God  of  peace  and  of  all  consola- 
tion, which  brought  us  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
the    great    Shepherd    of    the   sheep    through    the    everlasting 

218 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-7] 

covenant,  make  us  fruitful  in  all  good  works  to  do  thy  will, 
and  work  in  us  that  which  is  acceptable  in  thy  sight;  sanctify 
us  throughout,  and  keep  our  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body  fault- 
less unto  the  coming  of  thy  dear  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Thou  art  faithful,  O  Father,  who  hast  promised  this,  who 
also  shall  bring  it  to  pass;  to  thee,  therefore,  be  given  everlast- 
ing praise,  honor  and  glory.  Amen. — The  writer  of  the 
Epistles  to  the  Hebrews,  Heb.  13.  20. 


219 


OUTLINE— TENTH  WEEK.     STEWARDSHIP  AND 
THE  TITHE 

1.  Introductory:  The  Beginning  of  Stewardship. 

2.  First  Day :  Offerings  and  Worship. 

3.  Second  Day :  The  Tithe  an  Acknowledgment. 

4.  Third  Day :  Tithes  and  Offerings. 

5.  Fourth   Day :   The  Tithe   and  the   Tither. 

6.  Fifth  Day :  Tithing  in  the  New  Testament. 

7.  Sixth   Day :   Jesus   and   Tithing. 

8.  Seventh  Day:  The  Door  to  Larger  Life. 

QUESTIONS 

1.  a.  Do  you  tithe  your  income  for  the  Kingdom?     Why? 

b.  Does  tithing  pay?     Pay  whom?  and  what? 

c.  How  may  one  begin  the  practice  of   Christian  steward- 

ship? 

d.  How  do  you  know  that  you  have  accepted  any  principle 

of  living?     If  it  makes  no  difference  in  conduct  and 
spirit,  has  it  been  accepted? 

e.  What   does   the   tithe   signify?     Is   it  an   end   in   itself? 

What  part  of  stewardship? 

/.  Have  you  found  the  principle  of  tithing  taught  in  the 
Bible?  practiced  by  the  saints  of  old?  preached  by 
your  pastor? 

g.  When  and  where  did  tithing  begin?  When  does  stew- 
ardship begin? 

2.  a.  Wh»t  is  the  relation  of  tithing  stewardship  to  worship? 

Is  the  tithe  ever  mere  tribute  or  tax? 

b.  How  generally  is  worship  in  the  Scriptures  accompanied 

by  the  offering  of  material  possessions?    Cite  instances. 

c.  Where  did  Abraham  learn  tithing? 

3.  a.  Why  cannot  a  Christian  steward  give  to  God? 

b.  Why  must  ownership  be  acknowledged? 

c.  What  portion  of  your  possessions  belongs  to  God? 

220 


I 


STEWARDSHIP  AND  THE  TITHE  [X-o] 

a.  Is  the  tithe  to  be  the  maximum  of  one's  paying  for  the 

support  of  the  Kingdom?  the  minimum? 

b.  How,  in  modern  times,   does  tithing  stewardship  bring 

the  worshiper  into   contact  with   God?     Is   God   con- 
sciously present? 

a.  For  what  purposes  was  the  tithe  used  among  the  Jews? 

b.  Of   what   is   paying   the   tithe   an   acknowledgment? 

c.  How  does  paying  tithes  benefit  the  tither? 

d.  What  promises  in  the  Old  Testament  are  withdrawn  in 

the  New  Testament? 

e.  What  are  the  blessings  promised  in  Mai.  3.  8-10? 

a.  W^hat  is  the  compulsion  upon  the  Christian  steward,  law 
or  love?  legalor  loyal? 

a.  What  is  Jesus'  attitude  toward   tithing? 

b.  What  is  the  principle  of  the  tithe? 

a.  How  large  is  your  world?  your  life?  your  stewardship? 

b.  Is  the  tithe  for  the  sake  of  the  money,  or  for  the  sake 

of  the  tithe? 

EXERCISES 

How  would  you  raise  the  necessary  money  for  the  work 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ? 

W^hat  other  objects  must  be  considered,  besides  getting 
the  money?     What  is  their  order  of  importance? 

List  the  liberal  persons,  who  began  with  the  tithe,  among 
your  own  acquaintances?     Are  they  spiritually  minded? 

What  are  the  real  difficulties  in  the  way  of  tithing? 

Can  a  compulsory  tithe  be  religious  or  have  spiritual  value? 

Why  may  nontithers  be  called  "robbers"? 

Does  the  Christian  steward  operate  as  a  slave?  a  servant? 
a  partner?  a  son?  Can  he  conclude  his  duty  by  paying 
a  tithe? 

How  may  we  segregate  any  part  of  our  lives — tithing, 
stewardship,  prayer,  work,  personal  relations  with 
others — from  religious  or  everyday  living,  and  retain 
abundant  life?  To  what  part  of  the  Kingdom  have  we 
no  relation?  To  what  part  of  life  is  the  Kingdom  un- 
related ? 


221 


INDEX 


Abbott,   Lyman,   quoted,    ii8 
Abraham,    friend   and   steward,    40 
Achan,    judged    for    covetousness, 

13s,    MS 

Acknowledging  God  in  Business, 
190 

Acknowledgment,  The  tithe  an, 
205 

Africa,  divided  by  covetous  na- 
tions,   175 

African  missionary's  story,   116 

Agar,  Frederick  A.,  quoted,   211 

Albright,  Mary  E.,  poem  quoted, 
21 

Alford,  Dean  Henry,  prayer 
quoted,  41 

Altruism,      sometimes      weakening, 

79 
Ambition,   result   of   both   steward- 
ship  and   covetousness,    140 
Ambrose,  prayer  quoted,   122 
America,     moved     by     spasms     of 

benevolence,    137 
"American    Tithers,"    quoted,    200 
Ananias   and    Sapphira,    story,    140 
Apostasy,    followed  recognition   by 

Rome,    153 
Aristotle,   quoted,  23 
Aristotelianism,    17,  23 
Arnold,   Matthew,  quoted,   34 
Arthur,   William,   quoted,    121 
Assurance  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ, 

105 
Attitude       of       Christian       toward 

Jesus,    82 
Augustine,    Saint,    prayer    quoted, 

128 

Babson,  Roger  W.,  quoted,  131, 
148,  157.  160,  176,  177,  179. 
190,  197 


Bacon,  quoted,   174 
Bartlett,    Frank,    quoted,    154,    192 
Eashford,   James   W.,    quoted,    126 
Beard,     Theresa     Virginia,     poem 

quoted,    74 
Beecher,  Henry  Ward,   quoted,  41 
Beginning   of   Stewardship,    197 
Benevolence,      cannot      meet      life 
needs,    74;    spasmodic,   137;   Mo- 
tive to  work,   185 
Bennett,  R.  H.,  quoted,   144 
■Bernard,     Saint,     prayer     quoted, 

141 
Best,  Susie  M.,   poem,    137 
Bible  quoted,    (See  list,  page  236) 
Bible,   each  generation   makes   new 

discoveries    in,    15 
Birney,    L.    J.,    prayer  quoted,    183 
Bolton,      Sarah      Knowles,      poem 

quoted,    23 
Eonar,   Horatio,   poem   quoted,   214 
Bqurdillon,     Francis     Wm.,     poem 

quoted,    148 
Bradley,  J.  W.,  story  by,  24 
Brainerd,  David,  quoted,  44 
Brooks,    Phillips,    story   of   conver- 
sion,   21;    visited   Helen    Keller, 
52;        unselfish        seeker,        140; 
quoted,    78,    107,    167 
Brotherhood,      spiritual     and     ma- 
terial,   152;    interfered    with    by 
business,     184;     conditions     that 
prevent,    177 
Browning,         Elizabeth         Barrett, 

quoted,   26 
Browning,    Robert,    poem    quoted, 

17.  94,   153 
Bryant,       Anna      Burnham,     poem 

quoted,    106 
Bryant,        Wm.        Cullen,        poem 
quoted,    144 


222 


INDEX 


Burnet,  Dana,  poem  quoted,  187 

Burton,  Richard,  poem  quoted, 
104 

Bushnell,    Horace,    quoted,    151 

Business,  and  sin,  180;  its  pur- 
pose, 181;  and  Golden  Rule, 
187;  "to  glory  of  God  and  wel- 
fare of  worker,"  174;  in  obedi- 
ence to  God,   189 

Business  causing  war,    186 

Business   of   life,    76 

"Business  Man  and  His  Over- 
flow,"   quoted,    76 

Business  Man,  quits  business, 
story,    133 

Business  Men,  Christian,  Dedica- 
tion to,  5;  Motives  of  change, 
15;  serve  God,  165;  responsible 
for  industrial  reform,  i8i; 
Hard  to  be  unselfish,    183 

Business  preventing  brotherhood, 
184 

Business,  stewardship  of  empha- 
sized, 9;  Big,  social  and  public, 
15 

Business  and  Stewardship,    174 

Business  vs.  Worker,   191 

Buxton,    Charles,   quoted,   213 

Cain,   his  sin,  203 

Calkins,  Harvey  Reeves,  quoted, 
153,    211 

Calvary,  consummation  of  Stew- 
ardship,   47 

Candy,   and    the    Church,    145 

Capital,  wrong  to  disparage,  "156; 
wrong  to  love,  158;  not  to 
blame  entirely  for  industrial  in- 
justice,  176 

Capital  vs.  Labor,  Stewardship 
settles,    9 

Capitalism  wrong,  161 

"Captain  of  My  Soul,"  poem 
quoted,   17 

Carlyle,    Thomas,    quoted,    47,    185 

Carnegie,  Andrew  and  his  wealth, 
162 


Carruth,  William  Herbert,  poem 
quoted,   37 

Cavell,  Edith,  quoted,   jy 

Chaplain,  would  live  for  Jesus,   73 

Charles,  Elizabeth,  poem  quoted, 
189 

Chesterton,  G.  K.,  quoted,   80,   132 

Child  of  God,  a  steward,  62 

Child's   question,    15 

Chinaman,  and  physician,  story, 
103 

Chinese   famine   story,   24 

Christ,  no  other  way,  85;  claims 
whole   life,    180 

Christian  and  pagan  philosophy 
compared,   17,    18 

Christian  Business  Men,  Dedica- 
tion to,  5;  conduct  ruthless 
business,    175 

Christianity,  Romance  of,  93;  self- 
destroying,  131;  not  tried  be- 
cause difficult,  132;  defeated  by 
covetousness,  145;  as  estab- 
lished religion,  153;  cannot  suc- 
ceed unless  humanity  be  re- 
deemed, 174;  must  conquer 
industrj',     174 

Christianizing    Industry,     174 

Christianizing  Property,    151 

Christians,  can  find  philosophy  of 
life,  16;  brother's  keeper,  59; 
practiced  stewardship  first  three 
centuries,    153 

Chrysostom,    quoted,    206 

Church,  growth  dangerous,  114; 
covetousness         defeats,  145; 

greatest  task  of  the.  Christian- 
izing property,  151;  must  solve 
industrial  problems,  176;  its 
business  to  apply  stewardship  to 
industry,  179;  suffering  from 
early  apostasy,  180 
Church      Fathers,      placed      prayer 

first,    114;    quoted,   143,    154 
Cincinnati    Clothing    Co.    practices 

Golden    Rule,    180,    188 
Citizenship,  stewardship   of,    180 


223 


INDEX 


Civilization  and  New  Testament, 
IS 

Cleghorn,  Sarah  G.,  poem  quoted, 
i86 

Clement,  quoted,    154 

Cobbler,  story  of  enlargement,  216 

Colored  layman  who  tithed,  story, 
201 

Communion  with  God,  Living- 
stone's, 29;  indispensable  to 
Christian  steward,  118;  Great 
Commission  at  center  of,  118 

Communism,  not  practiced  at 
Pentecost,  152;  and  property, 
161 

Community,  Individual  and,   154 

Community,  the  source  of  wealth, 
162;  superior  to  private  prop- 
erty, 164;  must  be  considered  in 
industry,    192 

Conductor  on  railway,  and  King- 
dom   work,    yy 

Confession,    of    covetousness,     138 

Conscience,  silenced  by  covetous- 
ness,  141;  unravels,  213 

Consecration,  46;  of  property, 
140;   tithe  an  earnest  of,   198 

Constantine  becomes  Christian, 
153 

Conversion    to    Righteousness,    102 

Conviction,  overcomes  ridicule, 
206 

Coolidge,  Susan,  poem  quoted, 
127 

Covetous,  who  are,  136;  "idiots," 
144 

Covetousness,  is  idolatry,  131; 
blights  nations,  132,  136;  can- 
not be  defined,  135;  enemy  of 
Jesus'  philosophy  of  steward- 
ship, 135;  is  misleading,  138; 
seldom  confessed,  138;  brings 
judgment,  139;  cultivates  ambi- 
tion, 140;  followed  by  other 
vices,  140;  purposes  affected  by, 
141;  and  day  of  judgment,  143; 


distorts  judgment,    145;    obstacle 

to  salvation,  147 
Covetovisness,  peril  to  stewardship, 

131 
Cranston,  Bishop  Earl,  quoted,  35, 

37,  39,  48,   146 
Crawford,   Dan,    quoted,    86 
Creation,    God's     Stewardship,    36, 

37;    basis    of    God's    ownership, 

83 

Davis,  Robert,  quoted,  25 
Dawson,   Eric,  poem  quoted,  80 
Day   of    Reckoning,    The,    143 
Democracy,    great    event    of     i8th 

centurj',    151 
Depending   on    God,    126 
Dickinson,     Emily,     poem     quoted, 

163 
Discipleship    and    Possessions,    166 
Discoveries   in   Bible,   each   genera- 
tion makes,   15 
Discovery,     great     event     of     i6th 

Century,    151 
Divine   Leadership,    106 
Dodge,  Wm.  E.,  a  steward,  75 
Door   to   Larger   Life,   tithing,   216 
Drummond,     Henry,     quoted,     23, 

104 
Duffield,  Samuel  W.,  poem  quoted, 

"S 
Duke,   James  B.,   story   of,    156 
Duty,       before      preferment,      43; 

eternal,   86;    value   of,   87 
Dwight,      John       Sullivan,      poem 

quoted,    78 
Dynamite  in  New  Testament,   15 

Eastman,   George,   story  of,   160 
Eastman,    ]\Iax,    poem   quoted,    205 
Eating,    superfluous,    160 
"Economic    Imperialism,"     quoted, 

175 
Edward      VI,      Prayer      Book      of, 

quoted,    157 
Elliott,     Charlotte,     poem     quoted, 

76     • 


224 


INDEX 


Elliott,    \Vm.    J.,    quoted,    209 

Emergency  of  Christianity,   169 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo,  quoted, 
56 

Employer,  relation  to  employee, 
solved  by   stewardship,    9 

Epicureanism,    16,    18 

Esther,  Queen,  a  steward  of  life, 
■J2,\    challenged,    98 

Events,  Great,  of  five  modern  cen- 
turies,   151 

Evolution  did  not  produce  Jesus 
Christ,   84 

Experience,  pressure  of  God's  life 
on  ours,   107 

•Faber,       Frederick       W.,       poBm 

quoted,   43 
Faith,     Salvation     by,     and     Stew- 
ardship,  75 
Faithfulness,   28 
Far    East,    follows    West    to    war, 

175 
Farmingham,       Marianne,       poem 

quoted,   63 
Fathers    of    Church    placed    prayer 

first,  114 
Fatherhood    of    God,    20 
F"aulkner,    John    Alfred,    preserves 

record,    117 
Fear,  caused  by  riches,   147 
Fellowship,     with     God,     98;     with 

heroes  of  past,    98 
Fellowship    of    Stewardship,    57 
Fenelon     Frangois    de     la     Mothe, 

prayer    quoted,    65 
First   Test   of    Stewardship,    168 
Five   great  modern  events,   151 
"Five  Great  Philosophies  of  Life," 

by  Wm.    DeWitt   Hyde,   quoted, 

16 
Forbes,    B.    C,    quoted,    156 
Fosdick,    Harry    Emerson,    quoted, 

175 
Foss,    Sam    Walter,   poem   quoted, 

36 


Free     will     more     important     than 

success,   40 
Freedom    political,    great    event   of 

19th    Century,    151 
Friendship   with    God,    88 
"Fundamentals       of      Prosperity," 

quoted,    177 
Future,    The    Steward's,    64 

Garden    of    Eden,    Stewardship    in, 
Z7',       God's      sovereignty      chal- 
lenged in,   Z7 
Garrison,    Theodosia,   quoted,    59 
Gelasian       Sacramentary,       prayer 

quoted,    43 
Generosity,   by-product   of   war,   76 
Gillies,     Andrew,     quoted,    84 
Girl    carrying    baby,    story,    82 
Girl  would  be  a  missionary,  story, 

88 
Girls  lured,  yy 

Gladstone,  Wm.   E.,  quoted,  218 
God     the     Father,     ^y;     seeks    his 

children,  39,  43,  45,  62 
God,  character  of,  16;  Father 
hood  of,  20;  the  owner  of  life 
21;  wants  us  to  like  our  jobs 
25;  is  social,  36;  invests  his  all 
37;  separation  from  in  Eden 
38;  speaks  through  Abraham, 
40;  through  Moses,  42;  pres 
ence  felt,  52;  relation  to  stew 
ard,  57;  friendship  to,  88;  re 
sources  for  man,  94;  wants  per 
feet  men  and  world,  94;  fellow 
ship  with,  98;  first  element  of 
success,  100;  seeks  men,  100; 
his  supreme  appeal,  Jesus,  100; 
response  to  prayer,  116;  com- 
munion with,  necessary,  118; 
to  have  a  pull  with,  122;  will 
not  go  over  head  of  steward, 
123;  depending  on,  126;  prop- 
erty subject  to,  164;  served 
by  in  all  useful  work,  165;  busi- 
ness to  glory  of,  174;  acknowl- 
edging in  business,   190 


225 


INDEX 


God's  eyes,  seeing  through,   127 

God's  message,   stewardship,   73 

God's  ownership,  basis  of  stew- 
ardship, 35;  challenged  in 
Eden,  37;  must  be  acknowl- 
edged, 56;  fundamental  princi- 
ple of  stewardship,  76;  based  on 
creation  and  redemption,  83; 
ignored  by  covetous,  143;  ac- 
cepted at  Pentecost,  150;  com- 
promised as  Rome  accepted 
Christianity,  153;  or  revolution, 
iSS 

God's  Philosophy  revealed  by 
Jesus,    16 

God's  Plans,  16,  19,  20,  23;  for 
world    redemption,    41 

God's  Presence,  and  Freedom,  52; 
and  the  tithe  acknowledgment, 
53 

God's  Stewardship,  34;  God  ruled 
by.  34;  creation  an  act  of,  36; 
in  Garden,  37;  a  supreme  ven- 
ture, Z7;  salvaging  men  is,  39; 
social  responsibility  is,  41 ;  re- 
fusal of,  43;  supreme  example 
of,  45 ;  Pentecost,  fulfillment 
of,   47;    differs    from   ours,    55 

God's  word  for  this  generation, 
stewardship,    15 

Golden  Rule,  used  by  clothing 
manufacturer,  180;  Business 
and  the,  187;  may  be  practiced 
alone,    188 

Goldsmith,  Oliver,  poem  quoted, 
131 

Good  Samaritan,  Parable  of,  55 

Gore,  Bishop  Charles,  quoted,  153, 
162,    163 

"Gospel  for  a  Working  World, 
The,"   quoted,    167 

Gratitude,  a  stewardship  grace, 
45 

Great  Commission,  center  of  com- 
munion,   118 

Great  War,  for  profits,   175 

Greaves,   J.    P.,    quoted,    19 


Gruber,    Abraham,    poem    quoted, 

216 
Guest,     Edgar    A.,    poem    quoted, 

139 
Guild      of      Saint      Paul,      prayer 

quoted,    108 
Guiney,      Louise      Imogen,      poem 

quoted,  99 
Gunsaulus,   Frank  W.,  quoted,    96 

Halford,    Colonel    E.    W.,    quoted, 

63,    213 
Hall,    Wm.     Phillips,    quoted,    loi 
Hamilton,    Bishop,    quoted,    114 
Hankey,    Donald,    quoted,    126 
Happiness,     in    Jesus'     philosophy, 
25;    general    happiness    depends 
on  stewardship,   25:   sharing  key 
to,       104;      depends      much      on 
others,   187 
Hartley,   Wm.   B.,   story   of,   200 
Hartman,    L.    O.,    quoted,    158 
Havergal,     Frances     Ridley,     poem 

quoted,    122 
Headland,  Isaac  T.,  quoted,   103 
Hebrew    nation     refuses     steward- 
ship,    43;     political     decay     fol- 
lows,     43;       reminded      of      by 
prophets  and  Jesus,    57 
Henderson,    Bishop    Theodore    S., 

quoted,    140 
Henley,  W.   E.,  poem  quoted,   17 
Henry  VIII,   Statutes  27,   quoted, 

202 
Heresy,  a  stupid,  and  Prayer,   112 
Hermit,    not   a    Christian    steward, 

36 
Heroic  service,   78 
Heroism   in  Heat  and  Cold,   86 
Hillis,   Newell   Dwight,   quoted,    52 
Holmes,      Oliver     Wendell,      poem 

quoted,  57 
Holy  Spirit,  reign  began  at  Pente- 
cost, 47;  Helen  Keller  felt 
presence  of,  52;  inspires  stew- 
ard, 95,  96;  waits  on  church, 
97;        personal       leader,        106; 


226 


INDEX 


secured     through     prayer,     120; 

limited   by  men,    123 
Hoover,       Herbert,       quoted,       60; 

opinion  quoted,   160 
Horder,   W.    Garrett,   quoted,   26 
How,      Bishop      Walsham,     prayer 

quoted,  84 
Howard,   Mr.  Clinton,  quoted,    151 
Hyde,     William     DeWitt,     quoted, 

16,  18,  24,  62,  79 

Idolatry,  Covetousness  is.  Intro- 
duction, 131 

"I    go    to   prove    my   soul,"    17 

'"I  know.  Lord,  thou  hast  sent 
him,"    19 

Immigrants,  effect  of  industry  on, 
167 

Immortality,    conditioned,    21 

Indian,  Prayer  Cycle,  prayer 
quoted,  21;  missionary  letter, 
60 

Individual,   and  communitj',    164 

Individual  conversions  key  to 
Christian    success,    102 

Industrial  problems  solved  by 
stewardship,   9 

Industry,  should  produce  men, 
then  money,  166;  uses  up  men, 
167,  Christianizing  of,  174; 
suffers  from  pagan  property 
ideas,  174;  reform  of,  rests  on 
Church,  181;  groups  of,  claim 
Jesus,    186 

Innes,  George,  quoted,    153,    190 

Intercessory  praj-er,  Brainerd's 
story  of,   44;   a  duty,   124 

International  relations,  and  stew- 
ardship,   15 

Inventiveness  stimulated  by  love, 
103 

Investing  for  Another,   55 

Irwin,   Will,    quoted,    175 

Jacks,   L.   P.,  quoted,   185 
Jenks,     Benjamin,     poem     quoted, 
89;   prayer  quoted,   138 


Jesus  and  Tithing,  214 

Jesus'  Philosophy  of  Life,  15;  is 
stewardship,  15;  is  God's  phil- 
osophy, 16;  a  climax  of  all  phil- 
osophies, 16;  is  livable,  18;  in- 
cludes others,  20;  includes  God, 
21;  love  in,  2;^;  compassion 
most  conspicuous  feature  of, 
2^;  happiness  in,  25;  prayer  in, 
27;  centers  on  stewardship, 
34;  faithfulness  the  crown  of, 
128;  covetousness,  enemy  of,   135 

Jesus'  views  revolutionary,  18; 
obedient  to  God,  22;  sympathy 
for  people,  23;  demands  heroic 
service,  78;  Christ  not  product 
of  evolution,  84;  his  words  re- 
called at  Pentecost,  96;  assur- 
ance he  is  the  Christ,  105; 
prayed  daily,  112;  teaching  of,, 
not  observed,  132;  would  favor 
budget  sj'stem,  160;  paid  tithes,, 
214 

Jews    paid    many    tithes,    206,    207 

John  the  Baptist,  advises  eco- 
nomic  reform,    181 

Jones,  Thos.  S.,  Jr.,  poem  quoted, 
161 

Jowett,  J.  H.,  quoted,  40,  95,  115, 
125,    143,    216 

Joy,  James  R.,  quoted,    180 

Judgment,  Day  of,  143;  deter- 
mined by  use   of  money,   168 

Keller,    Helen,    visited   by    Phillips 

Brooks,    story,    52 
Kent,     Henry     S.,     poem     quoted, 

185 
KhayySm,  Omar,  poem  quoted,  16, 

96 
Kilmer,    Joyce,    poem    quoted,    82, 

83 
Kimball,    Harriet    McEwen,    poenv 

quoted,    169 
Kindness,    its    source,    84 
King,    Professor,    quoted,     178 
Kingdom   loses  if  capital  or  labor 


227 


INDEX 


win,     178;    must    be    first,    182; 

should  be  first,  209 
Kingsley,   Charles,   quoted,  87,   191 
Knox,    John,    prayer    quoted,     loi 
Kodak,  story  of  thrift,   160 

Labor,    not    entirely   to    blame    for 

industrial    distress,    176 
Labor  vs.    Capital,  settled  by  stew- 
ardship,   9 
Lady  who  prayed  and  paid,  story, 

141 
Lanier,    Sidney,    poem    quoted,    27 
Lansdell,  Henry,  quoted,  202,  204, 

214 
Law  of  stewardship,  35;  based  on 

loyalty,    62 
Layman,   Paul  a,  77 
Learning  to  pray,    124 
Legalism   hinders  stewardship,   201 
Letts,   Miss  W.    M.,   poem  quoted, 

164 
Lewis,    Lena    Blinn,    poem    quoted, 

48 
Life  Insurance,  and  church,  145 
Life,     Philosophy     of,     Jesus'     9; 

sought  by  all,    15;   Christian  can 

find,   16;   Pagan  fails  to  find,    16 
Life,   Stewardship  of,   73;  business 

of,    76;    high    cost    of,    81;    the 

Door  to  Larger,  216 
Life      Service,       Jeremy      Taylor, 

quoted,   21 
Lincoln,    Abraham,    quoted,    64 
Lindsay,     Vachel,     poiem     quoted, 

•i77 

Livingstone,   David,   quoted,   29 

Loneliness  of  moral  combat,  29; 
not   God's  intention,   36 

Love,  to  God,  how  shown,  23;  to 
man,  story,  45;  Keynote  of 
Creation,  48;  basis  of  steward- 
ship, 62;  service,  friendship, 
88;  stimulates  inventiveness, 
103;  for  possessions,  wicked, 
158;  motive   of  brotherhood,   184 

Loving    attitude   to   Jesus,    82 


Loveman,  Robert,  poem  quoted, 
89 

Lowell,  James  Russell,  quoted,  15; 
poem    quoted,    146,    157 

Loyalty,  and  the  Tithe,  57,  62; 
and  stewardship,  77;  in  the  New 
Testament,    212 

Loyola,  Ignatius  de,  praj-er 
quoted,  82 

Luther,    Martin,    quoted,    127 

Luxury,  invites  decay,  39;  con- 
demned by  Hoover,  60;  not 
promised,  64;  costs  more  than 
religion  and  education,  137;  its 
place,  146;  Kingdom  should  pre- 
cede,   209 

Mahood,  J.  H.,  quoted,   102,  106 
Mammon  misleads,  147 
Man,  is  social,  36;  not  owner,  but 
steward,    37;    has    infinite    possi- 
bilities, 45;   being  made  in  God's 
image,    45;    self-made    sometimes 
shortsighted,   55;  may  trust  God 
and  do  right,  64;   worth  of,  65; 
salvation    of,    67;    always    being 
made    like    God,    93;    to   be   per- 
fect in   perfect   world,   94;    must 
like   God   to   enjoy   heaven,    102; 
man    led    by,    106;    blighted    by 
covetousness,        131;        property 
made    for,    167;    indicates    inter- 
ests by  use  of  money,  168;  com- 
mon,    victim    of     industrial     in- 
justice,    177;     must     join     com- 
munity life,  192 
Manhood,    object   of   business,    166 
Manna,     illustrates     private     prop- 
erty  limits,    162 
Manning,    H.   E.,   quoted,    189 
Markham,     Edwin,     poem     quoted, 

189,    192 
Martineau,    James,   prayer   quoted, 

78 
Material      stewardship      and      the 
Kingdom,  65 


228 


INDEX 


Matheson,    George,    poem    quoted, 

26,  41;   prayer  quoted,   28 
McCarthy,    Dennis,    poem    quoted, 

191 
McConaughy,    David,    quoted,    66, 

192,   212 
McCrea,  John,  quoted,  58 
McKinley,    Wm.,    quoted,    44 
Men,  or  money,   story,   167 
Meredith,    Owen,    quoted,    29 
Merriam,   George   S.,  quoted,    187 
Mill,   John    Stuart,   quoted,   206 
Miller,  George,  testimony  concern- 
ing   prayer,    120 
Miller,   Joachin,  poem  quoted,    159 
Mills,   Elliott,   E.,  poem  quoted,   93 
Mine,   cave-in,   at   Scranton,    188 
Ministry,    overwrought,    81 
Misers,  not  wanted,   35 
Misery,     from     greed     for     profits, 

174;   from  others,   187 
Missionary,     Letter     from     India, 

116,    117 
Money,  a  test  of  stewardship,   65 ; 
"Liquid     Personality,"     66;     re- 
veals   character,    66;    needed    in 
world    redemption,    123;     usurps 
God's  place,  147;  is  danger,  147; 
power,   conversion  of,   last   great 
revival,     151;     love    of,    wicked, 
158;  how  much  may  a  Christian 
possess?  161;  not  primary  object 
of  industry,   166;  indicates  inter- 
est,   168;    not    to    be    first,     181; 
how    to    use,    218 
Money,  Love  of,    158 
Montgomery,  James,  poem  quoted, 

III 
Moral,  combat  lonely,   29;   respon- 
sibility, 42 
Morgan,     Angela,     poem     quoted, 

193 
Morning  Watch,   needed,    127 
Mother's    Prayer    Garret,    a    story, 
120;    Mother  and   wayward  son, 
199 


Motive,  in  service,  82 
Mott,   John    R.,    quoted,    22 
"My   Brother's    Keeper,"    59 

Napoleon,    self-seeker,    140 
Nash,   quoted,    180 
Nash  Clothing  Co.,  story,   180,  188 
Nations,       Stewardship       of,       58; 
blighted    by    covetousness,    131; 
danger  to,   136 
Necessities    are    promised,    64 
Neighbor,  Who  is  my,   59 
New  Testament,   Dynamite  in,    15; 
and  civilization,   15;   principle  of 
stewardship     underlies,      9;      re- 
veals passion   of   Great   Commis- 
sion,! 18;    covetousness    contrary 
to,    132;    calls    covetous    "idiot," 
144;     agrees     with     Old     Testa- 
ment,   213 
New    Testament,    Tithing    in,     212 
"Next  War,  The,"  quoted,    175 

Obedience,  to  Divine  Will,  19;  a 
pleasure,  25;  counsels,  26;  a 
safeguard,  28;  refused  in  Eden, 
38;  refused  by  Hebrews,  43; 
all   our   business  may  be,    189 

Obligation  of  Stewardship,  to  God 
the  Creator,  55;  to  our  fathers, 
57 

Offerings,  and  worship,  203; 
Tithes   and,    207 

Old  Testament,  principle  of  stew- 
ardship underlies,  9;  empha- 
sizes stewardship  of  Divine  re- 
sources,    124 

Omar  KhayyS.m,   quoted,   16,  96 

Outline  of  argument  of  "The 
Message    of    Stewardship,"   9 

Ownership,  God's  never  relin- 
quished, 35;  man's  questioned, 
37;  God's  basis  of  stewardship, 
74;  based  on  creation  and  re- 
demption, 83;  ignored  by  covet- 
ous, 143 


229 


INDEX 


Pagan  and  Christian  Philosophy 
compared,    17,    25 

Pagan,  ideas  of  property  grip 
church,  151;  property  remains, 
155 

Pagan  Philosophy  fails,  16;  com- 
pared with  Christian,  17;  high- 
est   reach,    23 

Pain,  problem  of,  solved  by  stew- 
ardship,  26 

Palmer,   quoted,   46 

Parables  with  Stewardship  teach- 
ing,  53»   58,  62 

"Paradise  for  the  Christian  Soul," 
prayer    quoted,    44 

Parenthood,     Stewardship    of,    Z7 

Pastor  Robinson,  quoted,   15 

Patriotism,  based  on  stewardship, 
57;    depends  on   stewardship,    76 

Paul,  a  layman,  yy;  "Wandering 
Ulysses-like,"  93 

Peck,   George   C,   quoted,   140,    199 

Pentecost,  fulfills  divine  steward- 
ship, 47;  transformed  Paul  and 
Peter,  93;  climax  of  God's  stew- 
ardship, 94;  brought  vision  and 
power,  94;  recalls  Jesus'  say- 
ings, 96;  to  be  repeated,  99; 
and  world  reconstruction,  100; 
assures  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ, 
105;  prayer  prepares  for,  iii; 
and  stewardship  of  property, 
151;  communism  not  practiced 
at,   152 

Pentecost,    and    Stewardship,    93 

Peril  to  Stewardship,    131 

Personal  God  peculiar  to  Chris- 
tianity,   17 

Personal   Power   released,    122 

Personality,  Supreme,  67;  superior 
to    property,    166 

"Peter,  Preaching  of,"  quoted,   154 

Phelps,    Wm.    H.,    quoted,    81 

Philanthropist,    not    a    steward,    75 

"Philosophies,  Five  Great,  of 
Life"  by  Hyde,  quoted,  16,  18, 
■24,   ^2,  79 


Philosophy,  Jesus',  of  Life,  15; 
sought  as  explanation  of  life, 
15;  Christian  may  find,  16; 
Paganism  fails  to  find,  16;  is 
livable,  18;  includes  others,  20; 
includes  God,  21;  love  in,  23; 
happiness  in,  25;  prayer  in,  27; 
faithfulness  in,  28 

Philosophy  must  be  livable,  18 

Pierson,   Arthur   T.,   quoted,  99 

Pity    pitiful,    80 

Place  of  Prayer,  Introductory,  122 

Place,    depends    on    service,    43 

Plans,   God's,    16,    19,   20,    23 

Plato,   sympathy  limited,   23 

Platonism,    17 

Pleasure,  problem  of,  solved  by 
stewardship,   25 

Poems,  quoted.  (See  list,  page 
238) 

Polycarp,    prayer    quoted,    159 

Poor   Men,   covetous,    136 

Pope,  Alexander,  poem  quoted, 
211 

Porter,  David  R.,  prayer  quoted, 
61,  103,  127,  186 

Possessions,  teach  trust  in  God, 
57;  a  temptation,  65;  for  com- 
munity good,  103;  not  evil, 
156;  for  service  or  power?  161; 
Discipleship   and,    166 

Poteat,  Edwin  M.,  quoted,  136, 
138,    147,    162,    185 

Pounds,  Jessie  Brown,  poem 
quoted,    loi 

Power,  and  vision,  93;  prayer  re- 
leases and  directs,  112;  per- 
sonality released,  123;  is  danger, 
148,  of  money  must  be  Chris- 
tianized, 151;  if  possessions 
held  for,  is  sinister,   161 

Practical  understanding,  103 

Pray,  for  life,  78;  learning  to, 
124 

Prayer  Book  of  Edward  VI, 
quoted,    157 

Prayer,    Stewardship   and,    iii 


230 


INDEX 


Prayer,  necessary,  2y;  interces- 
sory described,  44;  place  of, 
1 11;  prepares  for  Pentecost, 
hi;  Stewardship  and,  in; 
new  evaluation  of  at  Pente- 
cost, in;  needed,  112;  in 
primitive  church,  114;  great  gift 
from  God,  115;  God's  response 
to,  116;  great  commission  at 
center  of,  118;  George  Muller's 
testimony,  120;  unlocks  door, 
120;  secures  the  Holy  Spirit, 
121;  a  duty,  124;  acknowledg- 
ment of  stewardship,  124;  de- 
mands  sacrifice,   125 

Prayer,    Indian    Cycle,    quoted,    21 

Prayer  of   Seneca,   20 

"Preaching  of  Peter,"  quoted,   154 

Presence   of   God   realized,    107 

Primitive  Church  in  Prayer,   114 

Principle  of  Stewardship  under- 
lies message  of  Old  and  New 
Testament,   9 

Private  property,  sanctioned,  162; 
story  of  manna  shows  limits  of, 
162;  secondary  to  human  wel- 
fare,   1 64 

Problems,  Industrial,  solved  by 
stewardship,   9 

Prodigal  Son,  Parable  of,  55,  62 

Profits,  not  first  in  industry,  166; 
greed  for,  chief  source  of 
misery,  174;  world  peril,  174; 
not  to  be  first,  182;  prevents 
brotherhood,  if  put  first,   184 

Prohibition,  great  event  of  20th 
century,     151 

"Property,  Its  Duties  and  Its 
Rights,"    quoted,    154,    162,    180 

Property,  can  bless  or  curse,  131; 
result  of  godliness,  131;  sensi- 
tive, 140;  must  be  surrendered, 
141;  Stewardship  and,  151; 
Christianizing,  church's  greatest 
task,  151;  gripped  by  pagan 
ideas,  151;  stewardship  of  at 
Pentecost,    151;    wrong   to   love, 


158;  private,  sanctioned,  161; 
use,  the  limit  on,  162;  com- 
munity superior  to,  164;  subject 
to  God's  ownership,  165; 
secondary  to  personality,  166; 
for  man,  167;  sought  by  both 
capital  and  labor,   176 

Prophets,  were  stewards  of  divine 
resources,    124 

Prosperity,  a  result  of  godliness, 
131 

Providence,  intelligent  and  loving, 
20 

Purpose,  of  this  book,  9;  affected 
by  covetousness,  143;  of  busi- 
ness,   182 

Pusey,  E.  B.,  prayer  quoted,  106, 
216 

Rail,    Harris   F.,   quoted,    177,   215 
Rauschenbusch,      Walter,       prayer 

quoted,    182 
Ray,   Maude   Louise,  poem  quoted, 

183 
Reckoning,  Day  of,  143 
Redemption,  of  world,  God's  plan, 

41;    basis    of    God's    ownership, 

184 
Reed,  Andrew,  poem  quoted,  94 
Reese,    Lizette    Woodworth,    poem 

quoted,   39 
Reformation,    great   event   of    17th 

Century,     151 
Relation,  to  God,  80 
Religion,  joyless,  88 
Repentance  and  rebirth,  conditions 

to  heaven,  102 
Resources,    found    through    prayer, 

114,   122;   spiritual  and  material, 

administered    by    men,     123 
Responsibility  realized,  98 
Revolution,     or    God's    ownership, 

155 
Revolutionary  views  of  Jesus,  18 
Rice,  Cale  Young,  quoted,  19 
Riches,    may  be   a  disgrace,    53;    a 

peril,     147;     not    evil    in    them- 


231 


INDEX 


selves,  156;  loved  by  capitalist 
and  laborer,   176 

Rich    farmer,    The    story    of,     144 

Rich  Men,  lost  through  covetous- 
ness,  147;  not  the  only  covet- 
ous ones,  136;  owe,  because 
rich,  143;  must  accept  stew- 
ardship, 143;  fearful,  147; 
owe     service,     154 

Robbers,  quarrel,  185 

Robbing   God,    143,   210 

Robert  II,  of  France,  poem 
quoted,   47 

Robinson,   Forbes,    quoted,    124 

Robinson,    Pastor,    quoted,    15 

Roman  Breviary,  prayer  quoted, 
120,    126,    148 

Roman  Church  and  pagan  prop- 
erty,   155 

Romance  of  Christianity,  93 

Rossetti,  Christina  G.,  poem 
quoted,  28,  207;  prayer  quoted, 
146,    163 

Rubaiyat  of  Omar  Kh&yySm, 
quoted,    16 

Rule,  Golden,  and  business,  180, 
187,   188 

Ruskin,  John,  quoted,  19,  28,  58, 
81,  138 

Saadi,   poem  quoted,    141 

"Sacred  Tenth,  The,"  quoted,  202, 
214 

Sacrifice,  self,  46;  demanded,  79; 
in  prayer,  125;  understood  by 
few,   137;  what  it  is,   143 

Saint  Bernard,  Prayer,  quoted, 
141 

Salvation  by  faith,   75 

"Saved  to  serve"  needs  interpre- 
tation,   74 

Saving  rich  men,  147 

Sayler,  James   L.,  quoted,   200 

Scotchman,  hard  business  man, 
story,    133;    rich,    story   of,    147 

Scott,    Captain,   quoted,   86 

Scripture.      (See    list,    page    236) 


Secret  of  success,  100,   104 
Seeger,   Alan,   poem   quoted,    165 
Self-made   man   shortsighted,    55 
Seneca,    Stoic,    prayer    quoted,    20 
"Service    and    Prayer    for    Church 

and  Home,"  quoted,  211 
Service,    proves    love,   23;    the   key 
to     preferment,     44;     inadequate 
without  stewardship,  7;^ ; 

rescued    from   commercialism   by 
stewardship,      73;      heroic,      78; 
importance    of    right    motive    in, 
82;     for    spiritual     regeneration, 
84;     love    indispensable    in,    89; 
possessions    held    for,    is    right, 
161 
Service,   Robert,  poem  quoted,   182 
Shaw,  George  Bernard,  quoted,  85 
Sin,    its    cure,    102;    not   to    pray, 
113,    124;    covetousness    ia    door 
to,    138;    and  business,    180;    un- 
finished business,   180 
"Sin     we're     afraid     to    mention," 

quoted,     134-5 
Slutz,    J.    Homer,    prayer    quoted, 

187,   214 
Smith,    \Vm.    Austin,    quoted,    177, 

179 
Social     Consciousness     Broadened, 

103 
Song,    for   fixed   faith,   86 
Sonship    and    Stewardship,    61 
South  America,  why  behind  North 

America,   a  story,    132 
Speer,  Robert  E.,  quoted,  97,    113, 

115,    ^27 
Spiritual     regeneration,     object    of 
service,    84;     spiritual    value    of 
stewardship      message,      9;      re- 
sults of   tithing,    197,    198 
Spurgeon,    quoted,    102 
Statutes  27,  Henry  VIII,   202 
Steinmetz,     Martha    Bird,    quoted, 

42;   prayer  quoted,   88,    189 
Stennett,  Samuel,  poem  quoted,  34 
Stern,   quoted,   205 


2Z2 


INDEX 


Stetson,  Charlotte  Perkins,  poem 
quoted,   65 

Stevenson,  Robert  L.,  quoted,  22, 
89,    100,    193 

Steward,  Future  of,  64;  all  are, 
55;  must  be  faithful,  56;  more 
than  a  philanthropist,  74; 
serves  in  name  of  Lord,  75; 
Wrn.  E.  Dodge,  a,  75;  saved  by 
faith,  75;  represents  God,  80; 
God's  personal  agent,  98;  prays, 
III,  must  keep  himself  fit  for 
Master's  business,  118;  God  will 
not  supersede,  123;  word  de- 
fined,   174 

Stewardship,  God's  word  for  this 
generation,  15,  53;  Jesus'  Phil- 
osophy of  Life,  is;  word  used 
in  periodicals  and  books,  15; 
and  international  relations,  15; 
consummates  all  philosophies, 
17;  happiness  depends  on,  25; 
prayer  in,  2y',  faithfulness 
crown  of,  28;  God  ruled  by,  34; 
God's,  34;  law  of,  35;  demon- 
strated by  God,  37;  in  Eden,  Z7't 
of  parenthood,  37;  is  voluntary, 
39;  of  time,  42;  refused  by  He- 
brews, 43;  vagueness  dissipated, 
52;  the  word,  why  used?  52; 
vital,  54;  other  words  not 
synonymous,  54;  covers  whole 
relation  of  man  to  God,  54; 
expresses  friendly  and  respon- 
sible relations,  54;  center  of 
Jesus'  philosophy  of  Life,  55; 
taught  in  parables,  55;  ours  dif- 
fers from  God's,  55;  obligation 
of,  55;  fellowship  of,  57;  of 
nations,  58;  world-need  for,  59; 
and  sonship,  61;  fulfillment  of 
life,  62;  money  a  test  of,  65; 
saving  life  the  goal  of,  67;  ma- 
terial, and  the  Kingdom,  67; 
superior  to  mere  service,  73; 
of  life,  73;  more  than  philan- 
thropy,     75;      God's     ownership 


fundamental  to,  76;  main  busi- 
ness of  life,  76;  principles  of, 
underlie  message  of  Old  and 
Xew  Testaments,  9;  Christian 
success  depends  on,  102;  prac- 
tice solves  industrial  problem, 
9;  prayer,  part  of,  iii;  regular, 
of  prayer,  118;  of  prayer  leads 
to  dependence  on  God,  126; 
necessary  to  rich,  147,  148;  at 
Pentecost,  152;  practiced  first 
three  centuries,  153;  includes 
saving  and  spending,  160;  of 
citizenship,  164;  first  test  of, 
168;  business  and,  174;  word 
defined,  174;  solution  of  in- 
dustrial problems,  177;  begins 
industrial  order,  190;  begin- 
ning of,  197;  legalism  hinders, 
201 
Stewardship  and  Prayer,  1 1 1 
Stewardship  and  Property,  151 
Stewardship  and  Service,  73 
Stewardship  and  the  Tithe,  197 
Stewardship       message,       spiritual 

value   of,   9 
Stewardship    of     Business    empha- 
sized, 93 
Stewardship    Relation,    The,    52 
Stinginess  is   sin,    138 
Stingy   Christian,   story  of,  62 
Stoic  prayer  by  Seneca,  20 
Stoicism,    17,    18 

Stories  told:  Chinese  famine,  24; 
Manufacturer  who  thought  he 
owned,  38;  Little  girl  at  prayer, 
41;  Mother  prayed  for  son,  45; 
Phillips  Brooks  and  Helen 
Keller,  52;  of  stingy  Christian, 
62;  Thinking  of  the  future,  64; 
Shipwreck,  67;  Chaplain  to  live 
for  Jesus,  7Z',  Wm.  E.  Dodge, 
Steward,  75;  Illinois  Central 
Railway  Conductor,  77;  Mother 
gave  son,  79;  Girl  carrying 
brother,  85;  Arctic  Explorers, 
86;    Girl    wanted    to    be    a   mis- 


^2,3 


INDEX 


sionary,  88;  Chinaman  and 
Physician,  103;  Japanese  secret 
of  beauty,  106;  Veteran  would 
pray  more,  iii;  African  Mis- 
sionary's prayer  answered,  116; 
A  Mother's  prayer  garret,  120; 
"A  Man  of  God,"  122;  Why 
South  America  is  behind  North 
America,  131;  Business  man 
who  quit,  133;  Ananias  and 
Sapphira,  139;  Lady  who 
prayed,  and  paid,  141;  Rich 
farmer,  144;  George  Eastman, 
160;  A  Missionary,  or  $10,000? 
166;  Nash  Clothing  Company, 
188;  Mine  cave-in,  188;  Begin- 
ning of  Stewardship,  197; 
Mother  and  son,  199;  Hartley, 
Wm.  B.,  experience,  200; 
Colored  layman  who  tithed, 
201;  Woman  who  combed  an- 
nually, 205;  Cobbler's  enlarged 
view,  216 

Stowe,  J.  J.,  quoted,   56 

Stowell,    Hugh,    poem    quoted,    118 

Strong,  Josiah,  quoted,   191 

Success,  depends  on  God,  22;  less 
important  than  free  well,  40; 
we  are  not  bound  to  win,  52; 
secret  of,  100;  Christian,  de- 
pends on  individual  conversions, 
Id 

Sursum  Corda,  prayer  quoted,  67, 
144 

Sweet,  Wm.  E.,  quoted,  76,  159, 
183 

Sympathy  for  people,  Jesus',  23; 
Plato's  limited,  23;  in  Kingdom 
of  Heaven,  24;  Abraham  for 
Sodom,  40;  Moses  for  Israel, 
42 

Talents,  parable  of,   55 

Taxes,   are    Christian,    162 

Taylor,    Jeremy,    quoted,    21,    165; 

prayer  quoted,  57 
Taylor,  S.  Earl,  quoted,  169 


Temptation,  Money  a,  65 

Tennyson,  Alfred,  poem  quoted, 
105,    124 

Tenth   Commandment,  unique,   145 

Tertullian,  quoted,   154 

"Thanatopsis,"  quoted,   144 

"The  Individualistic  Gospel," 
quoted,   82 

"The  same  old  baffling  questions," 
poem,    16 

Things  do  not  satisfy,   182 

Thirkield,  Bishop  W.  P.,  prayer 
quoted,  99,  104,  161,  205,  209, 
211 

Thrift,  a  Christian  virtue,   157 

Thriftlessness,   a  sin,    159 

Time,    stewardship   of,   42 

Tips  not   acceptable   to   God,    79 

Tithe,  a  minimum,  35;  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  God's  sov- 
ereignty, 52;  and  consciousness 
of  God's  presence,  53;  in  loving 
loyalty,  55,  62;  would  finance 
Kingdom,  197;  beginning  of 
stewardship,  198;  covetousness 
prevents  paying,  199;  laws  have 
hindered,  201;  paid  by  Chris- 
tians since  time  of  Christ,  202; 
paid  by  patriarchs,  203;  prob- 
ably paid  from  beginning,  205; 
an  acknowledgment,  205;  Jews 
paid  more  than  one,  206,  207; 
and  tither,  209;  paid  in  loving 
loyalty,  212;  not  an  end,  but 
acknowledgment,  215;  an  open 
door,    216 

Tithe,    and    Stewardship,    197 

Tither,    tithe    and,    209 

Tithes   and  offerings,    207 

Tithing  in  New  Testament,  212; 
Jesus  and,   214 

Toplady,  A.   M.,  poem  quoted,   147 

Trench,  Archbishop  R.  C,  poem 
quoted,   113 

"Tristram    Shandy,"    quoted,    204 

"Two  Ways,  The,"  quoted,  154 


234 


INDEX 


Unfinished    business,    sin,     i8o 
Use    of   this   book,    9 

Value     of     Stewardship,     spiritual, 

9 
Veteran,     wished    he    had    prayed 

more,  story,   1 1 1 
Vices     that     follow     covetousness, 

139 
Vineyard,    parable   of,    55,    58 
Vision  and  power,   9 
Vision,   distorted,    145 

Wage  earners,   why?    159 

Walter,      Harriet     Arnold,      poem 

quoted,     168 
War,    profits    of,    136;    caused    by 

business,    186;    cannot   be   ended 

until   business   and   industry   are 

Christianized,     175;     world,     for 

profits,    175 
Ward,   Harry  F.,   quoted,    167 
Warren,    Wm.    F.,    poem    quoted, 

97 
Watterson,   Henry,  quoted,   84 
Wattles,  Willard,   poem  quoted,   29 
Watts,     Isaac,     poem     quoted,    45, 

209 
Wealth    (See  Riches) 
Wesley,     John,     quoted,     68,     131, 

133,    161 


^^'estcott,     Bishop    B.     F.,     prayer 

quoted,   80 
"When    a    Man     Comes    to    Him- 
self,"   quoted,    159 
Whittier,    John    G.,    poem    quoted, 
16,    44,    46,    83,    102,     141,    142, 
184,  218 
Who  are  covetous,    136 
"Why    I     Gave     up     Business     to 

Teach,"   story,    156 
Wilson,    Stitt,    quoted,    155 
Wilson,    Woodrow,    quoted,    159 
Winchester,   Caleb  T.,  quoted,    103 
Wolif,    Leonard,    quoted,     175 
Woman     combed      hair     annually, 

story,   205 
Worker,      business     against,      188; 
business     for     welfare     of,     174; 
condition     of,     178;     helpfulness 
motive   to,   184;    physical,    moral, 
and       spiritual       welfare       con- 
sidered,  191 
World,  need  of,   demands  steward- 
ship,     59;      reconstructed,      100; 
prayer    needed    for,     113;    needs 
money,    123 
Works,  do  not  save,  82 
Worship,     offerings    and,    203 

Xavier,   Francis,   quoted,    138 


235 


SCRIPTURE  QUOTED 


Genesis    i.    i,    2,    26-28,    p.    36:    i. 
-6,    p.   94:    2.   8,    9,    15-17;    3.    6, 

8,  9,  p.  38:  4.  3-7,  p.  203:  4.  6 
(Septuagint),  p.  204:  12.  i,  2; 
18.    22-24,    32,   p.    40:    14.    17-20; 

15.  I,   5,   p.   204 

Exodus    16.    4,    14,     15,     19-21,    p. 

163:    17.   8-14,   p.    125:   20.   3,   p. 

131:  32.  30,  31,  32,  p.  42 
Leviticus  2^.  30-34,  p.  206 
Deuteronomy   8.    11-14,    I7»    18,    p. 

190:    12.    6,    7,    p.    208:    14.    22, 

23,    p.    208:    14.    28,    29,    p.    208: 

16.  16,      17,     p.      212:      2(i.      3,      p. 

208:    26.    S-io,    p.    210:    30.    1-3, 

p.   42 
Joshua   7.    6-8,    10,    11,    20,    21,    p. 

145 
I    Samuel    12.    22,,   p.    125 
I     Chronicles    29.    11,    12,    14,     16, 

18,  p.    166 
Psalms    19.    7-9,    p.    206:    139.    17- 

18,  23,  24,  p.   39 
Proverbs  3.    5,   6,   9,    10,  p.  208 
Jeremiah   6.    13-16,   p.    137 
Hosea   6.    i,    3;    11.   8,  9,  p.   44 
Malachi    3.    8-10,    p.    211 
Matthew  3-    13-16,  p.   215:   4.    i-ii, 

p.  22:  4.  18-20,  23,  p.  68:  5. 
17-19,  p.  213:  6.  19,  p.  132  and 
158:  6.  25,  26,  28-30,  p.  167:  6. 
30-33,  p.  64:  7.  12,  p.  189: 
7.   21,   p.   200:   9.    35-38,   p.    123: 

9.  38,  p.  112:  10.  42,  p.  81:  14. 
22,  23,  p.  127:  16.  24-27,  p. 
79:  19.  23-26,  p.  148:  21.  33- 
41,  p.  58:  23.  23,  24;  5.  40-42, 
p.    215:    25.    34-36,    p.     169:    28. 

19,  20,    p.    89 

Mark  1.   35,  p.    127:  9.  29,  p.   112: 


10.  17-22,  p.  142:  16.  20,  p 
107 

Luke  2.  41-49,  p.  18:  3.  10-14,  P 
181:  4.  16-21,  p.  24:  4.  32,  p 
152:  6.  36-38,  p.  189:  10.  29 
34.  P-  60:  II.  13,  p.  121:  12 
13-15.  P-  138:  12.  16-21,  p.  144 
12.  42-46,  48,  p.  56:  14.  18-21 
24,  p.  183:  14.  27-33,  p.  165 
14-  33,  p.  198:  15.  17-24,  P 
63:  16.  9,  10,  p.  157:  16.  9-12, 
p.  66:  16.  II,  p.  66  and  168 
17.  10,  p.  75:  22.  39-43,  P-  27 
22.   41,   p.    127 

John    I,    1-4,    10-14;    3-    16,    p.    45 

4.  31-34;    15-    10,    II,    p.    26:    6 

5.  8-12,  p.  160:  14.  25,  26,  p 
96:  15.  14-16,  p.  89:  17.  1-4: 
19.  28-30,  p.  28:  17,  IS,  19,  p 
157:   18.   33-37,  P-  20 

Acts  I,  4-8,  p.  47:  I.  7-8;  2.  1-4, 
p.  loi:  2.  14-18,  21,  p.  98:  2, 
32-36;  4.  13;  13.  52,  p.  105: 
2.  36-39,  p.  102:  2.  44-47,  p. 
104:  3.  12,  13,  p.  107:  4.  23-31, 
p.  119:  5.  1-5,  p.  140:  6.  1-4, 
p.    115:   8.    14-17,  p.    121:   8.   29; 

11.  12;  13.  2;  16.  7,  p.  107:  II. 
15-17,  P-  97:  20.  28,  31,  33-35, 
p.  77:  27.  22-2S,  p.  87 

Romans  i.  29,  30,  p.  135:  3,  20, 
p.  75:  8.  1-4;  13.  7-9,  p.  217: 
14.  7,  p.  36 

1  Corinthians  4.   1-2,  4,  5,  7,  p.  81: 

6.  19,  20,  p.  83:  9.  16-17,  P-  87: 
16.   1-3,  p.   212 

2  Corinthians  5.  14,  15,  17,  p. 
83:   5-    18-21,   p.  85 

Ephesians  4.  28-32,  p.  185:  5.  5, 
p.    134:   6.    18,   p.    126 


236 


SCRIPTURE  QUOTED 


Philippians  2.    1-4,   p.    186  Titus  i.   7,  p.   168 

Colossians  3.  5,  p.  134  Hebrews  12.  3,  p.  35:  13.  20,  p.  219 

1  Thessalonians  4.  9-12,  p.    192  James  5.   i,   3,  p.    169 

2  Thessalonians  3.  6,  10,  p.  192  i    John    3.    17,  p.    59   and   154 

1    Timothy   2.    i,   p.    126:    6.    9-12,  Revelation   5.    8;    7.   9;   8.    i,   3,   4, 
p.  158:  6.  17,  p.  211  5,   p.    116 


237 


POEMS   QUOTED 

"A    cricket's    chirrup,"    Ralph    S.    Cushman,    8i 

"Across  the  fields  of  yesterday,"  Thomas  S.  Jones,  Jr.,   i6i 

"A  fire  mist  and  a  planet,"  William  Herbert  Carruth,  37 

"A  man  must  live,"   Charlotte  Perkins  Stetson,  65 

"And  as  the  path  of  duty  is  made  plain,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  218 

"At  length  when  the  war's  at  an  end,"   Eric  Dawson,  80 

"Blessings  on  thee,  little  man,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,   142 

"Build    thee   more    stately    mansions,"    Oliver    Wendell    Holmes,    57 

"Challenge  thy  people,"  Jessie   Brown   Pounds,   loi 

"Come,   Holy  Ghost,   in   love,"   Robert   II   King   of   France,    tr.    by   Ray 

Palmer,  47 
"Does  the  road  wind  up-hill  all  the  way?"  Christina  Rossetti,  28 
"For  the  youth  they  gave,"  Theodosia  Garrison,   59 
"From  the  lust  for  gain  or  greed  for  gold,"  Ralph   S.   Cushman,  66 
"God  is  not   far,"  Ralph   S.   Cushman,   108 
"God  spare  thee  not,  America,"  Theresa  Virginia  Beard,   74 
"He  saw  me  plunged  in  deep  distress,"   Samuel  Stennett,   34 
"High  thoughts,  and  noble  in  all  lands,"  Richard  Burton,   104 
"Holy  Spirit,  all  divine,"  Andrew  Reed,  94 
"I  am  a  Child  in  the  Darkness,"  Marianne  Farningham,  63 
'I  bow  my  forehead  to  the  dust,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,   102 
'I  cannot  think  or  reason,"  Willard   Wattles,    29 
'I  did  not  know  till  'neath  the  rod,"   Susie  M.   Best,   137 
'If  I  can  stop  one  heart  from  breaking,"   Emily  Dickinson,   163 
'If  I  covet  one  high  grace,"  Anna  Burnham  Bryant,   106 
'If  I   have   been  less  true,   less   strong,"   Lena  Blinn   Lewis,   48 
'If  we  have  whispered  truth,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  83 
'I  go  to  prove  my  soul,"  Robert  Browning,  17 
'I  have  a  rendezvous  with  Death,"   Alan  Seeger,    165 
'I   know.   Lord,  thou  hast  sent  him,"   Cale   Young  Rice,    19 
'I  like  the  man  who  faces  what  he  must,"  Sarah  Knowles  Bolton,  23 
'111  fares  the  land,"  Oliver  Goldsmith,  131 
'I    looked   upon  a   sea,"    135 

'Immortal  love,   forever  full,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  46 
'In   all   the  little   things  of   life,"   Horatio   Bonar,    214 
'In  Flanders  Fields,"  John   McCrea,   58 
'In  men  whom  men  condemn  as  ill,"  Joaquin  Miller,   159 
'Into  the  woods  my  Master  went,"   Sidney  Lanier,   27 
'Into  this  Universe,  and  Why  not  knowing,"  Omar  Kh&yy&m,  96 

238 


POEMS  QUOTED 


"In  vain  we  call  our  notions  fudge,"  James  Russell  Lowell,  146 

"I  saw  the  spires  of  Oxford,"  Miss  W.   M.   Letts,   164 

"Is  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting?"   Elizabeth  Charles,    189 

"I  thank  thee  just  for  life,"   Ralph   S.    Cushman,    181 

"It  is  not  the  deed  we  do,"   Harriet  McEwen   Kimball,    169 

"I  wanted  the  gold,  and  I  sought  it,"  Robert  Service,  182 

"I  w'orked  for  men,"  Robert  Davis,  25 

"I   worship  thee,   O   Holy  Ghost,"  William   F.   Warren,   97 

"I   would  be  true,    for  there   are   those   who  trust  me,"    Harriet  Arnold 

Walter,    168 
"Just  as  I   am,   without  one   plea,"   Charlotte  Elliott,   76 
"Let  thy  high  manhood  sacred  be,"  Henry  S.  Kent,  185 
"Life  is  a  sheet  of  paper  white,"  James  Russell  Lowell,   157 
"Lo!  amid  the  press,"  Susan  Coolidge,  127 

"Lord,  speak  to  me  that  I  may  speak,"  Frances  Ridley  Havergal,   122 
"Lord,   what   a   change    within    us    one    short    hour,"    Archbishop    R.    C. 

Trench,    113 
"Love's  on  the  highroad,"  Dana  Burnet,  187 
"Man's  life  is  but  a  working  day,"   Christina  G.    Rossetti,  207 
"More  than   half  beaten,   but   fearless,"  L'nknown,    126  » 

"More  things  are  wrought  bj'  prayer,"  Alfred  Tennyson,   124 
"]My   Country,  'tis  of  Thee,"  Samuel  Francis   Smith,   79 
"My  shoulders  ache  beneath  my  pack,"  Joyce  Kilmer,  82 
"Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring,"  Augustus  M.   Toplady,    147 
"Nothing   to   do    in    this   world   of   oufs,"    41 

"Xot  that  they  starve,  but  starve  so  dreamlessly,"  Vachel  Lindsay,  177 
"Xo,   when  the  fight   begins   within   himself,"     Robert   Browning,   94 
"Of  all  the  colors  I  love  to  see,"  Ralph  S.  Cushman,  120 
"Oh,   the   little   more,   and   how  much  it   is,"    Robert   Browning,    153 
"O  Joy  supreme!   I  know  the  Voice,"  John   Greenleaf  Whittier,  44 
"O  Joy  that  seekest  me,"  George  Matheson,  26 
"O  life,  thou  art  rich,"  Ralph   S.   Cushman,  68 
"O   Love  that  wilt  not  let  me   go,"   George   Matheson,   41 
"O   masters,   lords,   and   rulers   in  all   lands,"    Edwin   Markham,    192 
"O  pale  faced  theologian,"   Elliott  E.   Mills,  93 

"O   strange   and   wild  is   the  world   of   men,"   Mary   E.   Albright,   21 
"Out   of  the   shame    of  my   coward  heart,"   Ralph    S.    Cushman,    87 
"Prayer   is  the   soul's   sincere   desire,"   James  Montgomery,    11 1 
"Rest   is  not  quitting,"   John   Sullivan  Dwight,   78 
Rubaij-at,  Omar  KhSyyam,   16 

"So  live,   that  when  thy  summons  comes,"   William   Cullen  Bryant,    144 
"So  many  gods,  so  many  creeds,"  84 

"Speak  to  him,  thou,  for  he  hears,"  Alfred  Tennyson,   105 
"Still   sits  the  schoolhouse  by  the   road,"  John   Greenleaf   Whittier,    184 
"Stir  me.   Oh!   Stir  me.   Lord,   I  care   not  how,"  Unknown,    118 
"Thanks  to  Saint  Matthew,  who  had  been,"  Sarah  G.   Cleghorn,   186 

239 


POEMS  QUOTED 

"The  Captain  of  My  Soul,"  W.  E.  Henley,  17 

"The   night  has  a  thousand  eyes,"  Francis  William   Bourdillon,    148 

"There  are  hermit  souls,"  Sam  Walter  Foss,  36 

"There   is   a  destiny  that   makes  us   brothers,"    Edwin  Markham,    189 

"There  is  a  place  where  Jesus  sheds,"  Hugh  Stowell,  118 

"The  roses  red  upon  my  neighbor's  vine,"  Abraham  Gruber,  216 

"There's  a  wideness  in   God's  mercy,"   Frederick  W.    Faber,   43 

"The  same   old  baffling  question!"  John   Greenleaf  Whittier,   16 

"They  may  not  need  me,"  Unknown,  61 

"Thy  love  shall  chant  its  own  beatitudes,"  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning,  26 

"Tired!    Well  what  of  that?"  86 

"To  live  as  gently  as  I  can,"    Edgar  A.    Guest,    139 

"To   love  someone   more   dearly  every  day,"   Maude   Louise    Ray,   183 

"To  stretch  my  hand  and  touch  him,"   Samuel  W.   Duffield,   115 

"Truth  be  more  precious  to  me  than  the  eyes,"  Max  Eastman,  205 

"Vice  is  a  monster  of  such  hideous  mien,"  Alexander  Pope,  211 

"Wealth  is  a  means,"  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  141 

"Were  the  Avhole  realm  of  nature  mine,"  Isaac  Watts,  45 

"What  care  I  for  robe  or  stole?"    Robert  Loveman,  89 

"What  inatters  death  if  freedom  be  not  dead,"  Joyce  Kilmer,  83 

"When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross,"  Isaac  Watts,   34  and  209 

"Whether  we  climb,  whether  we  plod,"   Lizette  Woodworth  Reese,  39 

"While   kings  of  eternal  evil,"   Louise  Imogen   Guiney,   99 

"Who  does  God's  work  will  get  God's  pay,"  Dennis  McCarthy,   191 

"Work!     Thank  God  for  the  might  of  it,"  Angela    Morgan,   193 

"Yet,  Ah,  that  Spring  should  vanish  with  the  Rose!"  Omar  Khayydm, 

16 
"You  asked  me  how  I  gave  my  heart  to  Christ,"  Unknown,  85 


240 


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